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Class _____ 
Book. 



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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 




WHAT WE ARE AND 
WHAT WE WILL BE 

ES2 




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donald w. Mcdonald 



WHAT WE ARE AND 
WHAT WE WILL BE 



Positive Proof of Identity. Individuality and 

Immortality of Man. Biblictic, Scientific, 

with Witnesses. And We Will Know 

Each Other There— Spirits Made 

Perfect. Family Circles 

Eternal in the 

Heavens. 



BY 

donald w. Mcdonald 

ft 




NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 
1909 






COPYRIGHTED MAY 29, 1908 
CLASS AXXC NO. 208301 

BY DONALD W. McDONALD 
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 



Cla. \ 
AUG*f9 


fo'Sf 


? 2 6 4 
1909 

, — 



ft j 



CONTENTS 



I i] 



Introduction ---------------13 

Our Carnal Body— What It Is ------- - 17 

Our Soul— What It Is ------------ 23 

Our Spirit — What It Is ----------- 37 

Death — What It Is ------------- 53 

Spirit Birth — What It Is ---------- 59 

A Spirit Born — What It Is ----------63 

In the Spirit — What It Is ---------- 73 

Angels— What They Are ----------- 79 

Land of Darkness — What It Is ------- - 85 

Land of Light and Love — What It Is ------- 89 

Why Dread Transition — What It Is ----- - 107 

Witnesses of the Truth - ---------- m 

Experience of Mrs. Geo. W. Bradshaw ------ in 

Experience of Dr. Dunby, of So. Pres. Church - - - 113 
Experience of Gen. Stonewall Jackson ----- 115 

Experience of Mr. Jesse J. Latham -------116 

Experience of Me. John Smith -------- 117 

Experience of Lieutenant Gay ---------- ng 

Experience of Mr. W. E. Sikes --------- 119 

Experience of Mrs. Heisen ----------119 

Experience of Miss Emma Fisher' ------- 120 

Experience of Miss Mary Adel ---------121 

Experience of Mrs. Geo. S. Brown ------- 123 

Experience of Miss Katy Brown --------123 

Experience of Master Jack Cleghorn ------ 124 

Experience of Miss Katie Mays --------- 125 



6 Contents 

Experience of Mrs. John Trout -------- 126 

Experience of Mrs. John McBride -------- 127 

Experience of Mrs. Susan McLean ------- 128 

Experience of Mrs. Mary Moses -------- 129 

Experience of Mrs. Katharin McConnell Gordon - - 130 
Experience of Elder John Gilliard ------- 130 

Experience of E. McCall Davis -------- 130 

Experience of Mrs. L. McConnell - - - - - - - -131 

Experience of Mrs. Maria Louise Rosser ----- 131 

Experience of Rev. Pilmer C. Archer -------132 

Experience of Mr. T. G. Ezell --------- 133 

Experience of Miss Mamie McGill -------133 

Experience of Mrs. H. T. Norment ------- 134 

Experience of Mrs. W. D. Harris -------- 135 

Experience of Mrs. Mary Cummings ------ 135 

Experience of Miss Verling Everson Guerry - - - - 137 

Experience of Miss Mary J. N. Whitner ----- 138 

Experience of Mrs. A. K. Marshall -------139 

Experience of Miss Cornelia Lowry ------ 140 

Experience of Rev. E. H. Bonnett, D.D. ------ 142 

Experience of Mrs. Mary A. Blowers ------ 142 

Experience of Dwight L. Moody -------- 143 

Experience of Prof. A. M. C. Brasch ------ 143 

Experience of Mrs. Ella M. Brasch ------- 145 

Experience of Mr. Louis Stephens ------- 146 

Experience of Bede ------------- 149 

Experience of St. Anthony ---------- 149 

Experience of Tertullian -----------150 

Experience of Ignatius ----------- 150 

Experience of Emanuel Swedenborg ------- 151 

Statement of Dr. Adam Clarke -------- 151 

Statement of Harriet Beecher Stowe ------- 151 



Contents 7 

Experience of Rev. B. L. Austin, M.A., LL.D. - - - 152 
Statement of Rev. Lyman Abbott -------- 153 

Experience of Sir Oliver Lodge, F.R.S., D.S.C., LL.B. - 154 
Experience of Dr. J. M. Peebles, M.D., M.A., Ph.D. - - 154 
Experience of Capt. J. F. Chase -------- 157 

Statement of Dr. Duncan McDougal, M.D. - - - - 161 

Statement of Franz Hartmann, M.D. ------ 162 

Statement of Camille Flammarion, Paris, France - - 165 
Experience of Sir William Crooks ------- 167 

Experience of William T. Stead, Editor R. of R. - - - 167 
Experience of Mrs. Titus ---------- 168 

Experience of Mr. Horace J. Seaver -------172 

Experience of Donald W. McDonald ------ 175 

Review of Part of Evidence ---------- 200 

Basis of Proof -------------- 212 

Conclusion ----------------213 

VERSES, SONG AND POETRY. 

Thanks for Message Received. Capt. A. Phinney - - 9 
When and Where. Donald W. McDonald - - - - 14 

Transition. Donald W. McDonald -------20 

Transition of Life. Donald W. McDonald - - - - 35 

Life. Capt. A. Phinney -----------50 

True Freedom. Capt. A. Phinney ------- 56 

Birth Not Death. Donald W. McDonald ----- 61 

New Birth. Capt. A. Phinney -------- 69 

Jesus and Work. Donald W. McDonald - - - - - 77 

Angels of Light. Donald W. McDonald ----- 81 

The Home of the Lost. Donald W. McDonald - - - 86 
Up There at Home. Donald W. McDonald - - - - 97 

Our Home. Donald W. McDonald -------- 102 

Spirit Birth. Donald W. McDonald ------ 109 



8 Contents 

There Is No Death. Bulwer Lytton ------- 152 

There Is No Death. Longfellow ------- 152 

Union in the Spirit. Donald W. McDonald - - - - 156 

To the Angels. Capt. A. Phinney - - - - - - - 160 

In My Home. Donald W. McDonald ------- 199 



To My Dear Brother, Donald W. McDonald. 



Dear Brother : Unto thee I bring 
A token from our glorious King, 
Who you his messenger has made 
To guide me on the heavenly road. 

Through you the powers that be do bring 
The music that in me doth ring, 
A music only to men given 
By inspiration born of Heaven. 

Oh I esteem then the gift Divine 
That ope's the vjay to sight like thine, 
That such as I of lovjly tread 
May thus to heavenly scenes be led. 

I hungry came, a lovjly child, 
The Father heard, and from the voild, 
Yea I <wild, 'wild vjaste of vjorldliness 
He sent thee here my soul to bless. 

Thrice hallowed be the ties that bind 
The Soul to Soul and Mind to Mind, 
And may our paths hardly divide . 
As on <rve voalk by Jesus' side. 

A season <we may be apart 
But Christ's love knits us heart to heart, 
As tovjard the heavenly goal voe move 
Serving the Lord of light and love. 

CAPT. A. PHINNEY. 

Mobile, Ala., 1907. 



INTRODUCTION 



THE KNOWN. 

What we are and what we will be should be the 
first question of interest to all mankind. John 1 1 : 26 : 
"Whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never 
die.'' Believest thou this? Science to-day proves 
clearly that man is composed of three substances — 
spirit, soul and matter. (See Paul Giber.) "Analy- 
sis of things existing" — that the living soul is an in- 
dividual identity and exists after death — Camille 
Flammarion proves by the rule of eight million to 
one. Frederick W. H. Myers, Professor Lodge, Dr. 
Hodgson and Professor Hyslop scientifically prove 
that those we call dead are alive, and live a life to 
which ours here can only be compared as death ; that 
other worlds exist inorganic, where life is life indeed, 
yet as real as this one we inhabit. See Jevons' "Prin- 
ciples of Science," and Young, who has proved to 
the world that the sun is two hundred and fifty de- 
grees below zero, and is a dynamo, jarring and vi- 
brating the particles and atoms of our atmosphere, 
producing heat, light and sound. Electricity, X-Rays, 
etc., are produced by vibration, and between these are 



12 What We Are and What We Will Be 

millions of rays that we do not see or perceive. In 
fact, the unseen, while in the flesh, is more than the 
visible, and is eternal. Hypnotism, clairaudiance, clair- 
voyance, telepathy and dissociation of the principles 
composing our bodies are now established. Alfred 
Russel Wallace, the most famous scientific man in the 
world, has succeeded in taking the photograph of a 
living soul, which is composed, First, of the spirit, be- 
ing a white, gaseous substance, the form of the per- 
son having even the features exact, and is the guiding 
and intelligent part, being subject to the Holy Spirit, 
or spirit of Satan, whichever we will. Second, the 
soul, which is composed of small molecules and atoms 
from the ethereal atmosphere above, driven through 
our gross atmosphere by the dynamic force of the 
sun, pervades all things living, portions of it adhering 
to our spirit, much the same as the flesh to our bones, 
forming a complete body within our shell, tabernacle, 
carnal or outward body, and is energy or motion, even 
driving the blood through our veins. The author of 
this book only claims to be a witness of the truths, as 
they exist and are held forth by both the Old Testa- 
ment and the New— dear Bible, ever true; and what 
was true in the apostolic times is true to-day, as we 
live in the same age. Jesus says, "Whosoever be- 
lieveth in me, the works that I do he shall do also, 
and greater works than these shall he do, because I 
go unto my Father : and again I am with you unto 



Introduction 13 

the end of the world." Also the positive proof of the 
identity, individuality and immortality of the spirit 
of man, called by election and grace, though un- 
worthy by our dear Master, Christ Jesus, who is the 
Son of our dear heavenly Father; by birthright was 
Jehovah, is Jehovah, ever will be Jehovah. Angels, 
archangels, cherubims and seraphims bowed to him 
before the worlds was, bowed to him while on earth, 
bow to him to-day, as he sitteth at the right hand of 
the Father, or passeth through that land of love, his 
kingdom, and ever will, glory to His name. While 
we are children of our dear Father by creation and 
adoption through His only Son by birthright, Christ 
Jesus, I claim no other powers than that I believe 
all inherit who get close to Jesus and work — simply 
a humble witness of the truth. This book is written 
not as a novel; is far moie interesting and beautiful; 
is the evidence of plain facts ; is not what we do not 
know, but what through grace we do know. It is 
known that a fact or truth is established by two or 
three witnesses. I purpose, through grace, to prove 
to all fair-minded, whether man, woman or child, the 
identity, individuality and immortality of the spirit 
of each person. First, by the Bible, — it is divine. We 
are carnal, and we only understand it as we become 
spiritual. Second, scientific investigation. Third, 
personal experiences and facts, proved by many wit- 
nesses, many of them living to-day and can be ap- 



14 What We Are and What We Will Be 

proached and investigated as to the truth of all state- 
ments in this volume. 

"when and where." 

When shall we meet 

Ours gone o'er before ? 
When shall we greet 

At the open door ? 

Not all we love 

Meet us here below. 
Through Christ we live, 

To Christ we should go. 

So close are they 

All whom we all love, 
All of them say, 

At our home above. 



OUR CARNAL BODY 



Gen. 2\j; "The Lord God formed man of the 
dust of the ground." Gen. 3:19: Speaking of this 
carnal body, "For dust thou art and unto dust shalt 
thou return." Our Father formed from the dust of 
the earth a complete shell of earth, for our inward 
body or living soul, composed of spirit, the true ego, 
the soul, body of the spirit. He formed this shell or 
carnal body, head, eyes, ears, trunk, limbs, lungs, 
bowels, heart, hands and feet, a complete shell, then 
blew within the nostrils of this shell his breath, which 
produced the spirit and soul within this shell he had 
made. But before he blew within Adam's nostrils it 
was nothing but a corpse of which we so truthfully 
say, Dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return. 
We find the same words spoken by Jehovah in Eccl. 
12:7: "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it 
was, and the spirit shall return unto God who gave 
it." Job 19:26:* "And after my skin even this body 
is destroyed. Then without my flesh shall I see God." 
Solomon was one of the wisest men of the world, 
and like Job he bears testimony to the truth. Abra- 
ham speaking of it, says, Gen. 18:27: "Which am 



♦American Standard Revision. 



16 What We Are and What We Will Be 

but dust and ashes." David, Ps. 103:14: "For he 
knoweth our frame. He remembereth that we are 
dust." Eccl. 3 : 20 : "All are of the dust and all 
turn to the dust again." Jesus called his earthly body 
the tabernacle of his body. Not his body at all, just 
the tent of his body ; and he being Jehovah, knew. 
The apostles call it the outward body or tabernacle. 
Paul, an outward body, earthly body and earthly ves- 
sel. After he had been in paradise and the third 
heaven, says, "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the 
kingdom of God." The carnal mind is not subject to 
the will of God, neither indeed can be. Again, "If 
ye live after the flesh ye shall die, but if after the 
Spirit, ye shall live." 

Now, I am not as able on this question as Paul, 
but I do say, that I don't see what use we could 
make of the carnal body, when the soul forms such 
a beautiful body on the spirit as an angel. Neither 
will I state that there are not some component parts 
of this earthly shell or body that may be essential to 
the completion of our living soul. I will just let you 
and Paul settle this question. How an earthly 
shell can enter a celestial or inorganic land, I 
cannot comprehend. I know when you are ab- 
sent from the body you do not care for it, any more 
than you do for the tooth you had pulled and have 
cast away years ago, and it is a part of your earthly 
shell, same as your heart. Let us look at this earthly 



Our Carnal Body— What It Is 17 

shell scientifically. By the old theory we know that 
there is a complete change of this earthly body every 
five or seven years; in fact, the shell I wear to-day 
I did not have seven years ago. At the age of sixty 
I have had on an average basis ten bodies, at least, 
or a body ten times the size of my present body, or 
shell. Now, let us look at the new theory, proved 
to be a fact. (From the "Unknown," by Flammarion.) 
Of what is the human body composed? An average 
adult man weighs one hundred and forty pounds. Of 
this amount there are nearly one hundred and four 
pounds of water in the blood and flesh. Analyze the 
substance of our body, you find albumen, fibrine, cseine 
and gelatine; that is, organic substance composed 
originally of four essential gases — oxygen, nitrogen, 
hydrogen and carbonic acid. You will also find gum, 
sugar, starch, etc., substances which are exhaled dur- 
ing exhalation under the form of carbonic acid and 
water. Water is a combination of two gases, oxygen 
and hydrogen; the air is a mixture of two gases, 
oxygen and nitrogen, to which is added, in lesser pro- 
portions, water in the form of vapor, which, however, 
is but condensed oxygen. Thus our body is composed 
only of transformed gases. 

In a few months (not seven years, as was formerly 

thought), our body is entirely renewed. None of the 

flesh of our body existed three months ago; the 

shoulders, face, eyes, mouth, the arms, the hair, all 

2 



18 What We Are and What We Will Be 

of our organism is but a current of molecules, a 
ceaselessly renewed flame, a river which we may look 
upon all our lives but never see the same water again. 
It is all nothing but assimilated gas, condensed and 
modified, and more than anything else, it is air. Our 
whole body is composed of invisible molecules, which, 
when taken separately, do not touch each other, and 
are continually renewed. 

Finally, our table is spread. If we are vegetarians, 
we absorb substance almost entirely drawn from the 
air. This peach is air and water ; this pear, this grape, 
this nut are also made of air and water, a few gaseous 
elements drawn to them by the sap, by solar heat, by 
rain. Asparagus or salad, peas, beans or lettuce, all 
these live in the air and on air — the very same gases, 
nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, etc. If it is a 
question of meat, the difference is not great. This 
substance, apparently so different, is only transformed 
vegetable matter, which itself is but a grouping of 
molecules taken from gases. Thus, whatever may be 
our kind of nourishment, our body, kept repaired, de- 
veloped by absorption of molecules, acquired by res- 
piration and elimination, is really but a current in- 
cessantly renewed by means of assimilation, directed, 
governed and organized by the immaterial force which 
animates us. To this force we may assuredly give the 
name of living soul. It groups the atoms which suit 
it, eliminates those which are useless to it, and, start- 



Our Carnal Body — What It Is 19 

ing with an imperceptible speck, an indiscernible 
germ, ends visible, intangible imponderable, to the 
carnal eye, like the attractions which lulls the worlds 
in a universal melody; and a body, however material 
it may seem to us, is in itself only a harmonious group- 
ing, formed by the attraction of this interior force." 

Again, when you have an opportunity to do so, 
place your hand under a one-hundred-power micro- 
scope. You will take it away at least three times be- 
fore you can bear to look at it. You will see a scabby, 
maturated substance, full of holes, with microbes rim- 
ing in and out. Such is your carnal body. This is the 
body that you have been so generously feeding and 
pampering while you have been letting your spirit 
starve. Oh, feed the spirit and have a glorious, living- 
soul, a body as an angel. We should use this body 
or shell with care and judgment. It is the temple or 
tent that we live in, and we will need it while on earth. 
Some will say, Why, Jesus' body was raised; but you 
must remember He was Jehovah: could, can and does 
make and unmake worlds. We will be like Him, but 
never equal to Him. You love Him here, I hope; if 
so, you will adore Him in His kingdom. He is just 
as far above us in beauty and power in that land of 
love and glory, as He was here. I fully agree with 
Jehovah, our Father and Creator, Moses, Abraham, 
David, Solomon, Plato, Jesus, Paul and all the early 
fathers, Dante, Milton and thousands of others, and 



20 What We Are and What We Will Be 

science proves that our bodies are composed of three 
substances. First, our earthly body is of the dust, 
earthly, an earthly body, and to dust it returns. It is 
not our true selves or ego, only an earthly tent bor- 
rowed of the earth while we live here. It is also a 
changeable body, not eternal nor lasting. I know 
when we pass over to that spiritual land, our Master's 
kingdom, so I plead with you to care more for the 
welfarevand feeding of your spirit, and thereby pro- 
duce soul on it, as this is what is called by Jesus the 
body; also generally spoken of in the Scriptures as 
your body, and is the body meant generally in that 
Divine book when speaking of continued life or eter- 
nal life. Also science and experience of all scientific 
men prove it. 

TRANSITION 

A bloom is high up in the air, 

On an oak tree and oh, so fair ; 
A bur comes forth, then a nut you see ; 

This is the life to be, the tree. 

The bur died and so forth came he, — 
The nut that hung on the oak tree, 

The life of the tree that is to be ; 
Not the shell but the nut, you see. 

The nut then falls down to the ground; 

Then soon some earth on it is found. 
Lo ! up it comes the I am, you see, 

Not the nut, but a green, oak tree. 

As with all life, so you and me. 

Lo ! forth we come and we are free. 



Our Carnal Body— What It Is 21 

Our own ego is the I am to be, 

Love the Lord and its joy, you see. 

As with all life, so you and me, 

There is no death, it's birth we see; 

To a land of joy or land of woe; 
To joy or woe, where will you go? 



OUR SOUL 



Gen. 2 : 7. After our Father formed the carnal 
body, or shell, he breathed into Adam's nostrils the 
breath of life, and man became a living soul. Life, 
spirit, soul, body of the spirit. You see soul is the 
second principle, not the first. The spirit can exist 
without the soul as an individual identity. Not so 
with the soul. The spirit is eternal. Not so with the 
soul. Soul can be destroyed. Paul says, Heb. 4 to 
12: "The word of God is quick and powerful and 
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to 
the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit. Do you 
read the Bible as Paul read it? Let us read it as 
Paul read it. Job 27 : 8 : "When God taketh away his 
soul." He, his or him, the true self existed, the spirit. 
Eccl. 18: 20: "The soul that sinneth it shall die." Je- 
sus, Matt. 10 : 28 : "Fear him who is able to destroy 
both body and soul." Matt. 16 : 26 : "Lose his own 
soul!" Luke 12: 19: "This day thy soul shall be re- 
quired of thee." We see that not only can the soul be 
destroyed by sin, but it can be taken away from the true 
ego, spirit. God said unto him, "Thou fool, this night 
shall thy soul be required of thee." It can be demanded 



Our Soul— What It Is 23 

and removed, but still the true him, the thee, the thou, 
the spirit exists. In this case a lost spirit naked in a 
land of darkness. No worldly goods, no soul. His 
hands against every spirit in that land of darkness. 
(See "Land of Darkness.") In Adam all die by sin. 
In Christ all are made alive. Paul said, speaking to the 
living on earth, "You are dead in your sins." Sin, 
death, darkness and hate are all synonymous and the 
opposite of light, life and love. Dr. J. M. Peebles, 
M.D., M.A., Ph.D., on "Soul." "Sometimes un- 
wisely called the astral body, is a genuine, substantial 
body, constituted of the most delicate, imponderable 
auras, atomic emanations, etherealized fluids, and re- 
fined, invisible substances. It is from these infini- 
tesimal elements and essences that the immortal prin- 
cipal, the divine ego, constructs, by psycho-physiolog- 
ical laws, affinities, attractions and polarizations, for 
itself an enwrapping envelope, an ethereal soul-body, 
interpermeating the material body, and of course of 
the same form." The soul is driven by the dynamic 
influence of the sun from the ethereal spheres above 
and adheres to all things that attract it. We, our 
spirits, are magnetics. We attract good if we are 
good, and throw off evil. Or if evil, we attract evil 
and throw off good. Luke 21:20: "In your patience 
you shall win your soul." Now as we feed the spirit, 
in just such a ratio does our spirit attract soul, which 
is small particles of atoms, and the food of the spirit 



24 What We Are and What We Will Be 

to produce soul is inorganic. First, a nearness and 
love to our heavenly Father and Master. Second, 
studying the dear old Bible. Third, good, pure litera- 
ture. Fourth, good thoughts to all. Fifth, kindness 
and love to all. Good acts towards all form our rai- 
ments and wealth in heaven. See Rev. 19 : 8. This 
is not all the food that is good for the spirit to pro- 
duce soul, but part of it. You feed the carnal body 
to produce flesh, which performs functions similar 
as the soul does the spirit, giving it a complete, beau- 
tiful body, and enables it to drift through the altitudes 
of those heavenly spheres, in proportion as we have 
soul on our spirit. The prophets, Jesus, the apostles 
and writers often speak of the soul in the same sense 
as we do of the carnal body. I speak of J. Jones. 
I mean his spirit, soul and body. I speak of the soul, 
I mean his soul and spirit. In this sense John speaks 
of the souls he saw underneath the throne of God. as 
the soul could not nor can it exist without the spirit 
of true ego or self. Let us be wise and save our souls 
and live so as to produce an abundance of soul for our 
spirit. As we know a spirit without soul is lost, or 
at least if the spirit is passing out calls on the Lord, 
it is only a naked spirit, almost if not altogether, just 
saved as if by fire; a poor, sick tramp in a land of 
love and glory, and it will take a long time before 
such a ! one can enter in the family circle in that land 
of love, our Master's kingdom. There is in every per- 



Our Soul— What It Is 25 

son on earth a spirit, and as it is clothed upon with 
soul becomes beautified and glorified, just as Moses 
and Elisha were when they stood with Jesus on the 
Mount. You love to look well in this world, only a 
few days at most. Oh, why not give more attention 
towards looking well and being well in eternity. Oh, 
I pray you to feed your spirits, and when you come to 
pass over your birth will be victory, your entrance 
into our Master's kingdom glorious. Just go sweep- 
ing through those portals accompanied by your dear 
ones gone on before and the angels, and immediately 
to a beautiful home in that land of love, greeted by 
the other dear ones there, see Jesus face to face and 
live eternal in love. 

This is the great question of life for each one to de- 
cide for themselves, and not for another, Where shall 
I spend eternity ? In a cave or rugged mountain side ? 
In fear, terror, or a wretched hovel at best? In 
shame, disgrace or fear? Or in a mansion, sur- 
rounded with groves, flowers, shady walks and lovely 
fountains, in safety and love with our dear loved ones, 
always at home with Jesus and our dear heavenly 
Father. This I know to be true. I have through grace 
seen and handled naked spirits, and talked with them. 
Seen them on earth and seen them in the Land of 
Darkness. I have also seen living souls or spirits of 
just ones made perfect, or partly perfect, embraced 
them, talked with them, handled them both on this 



26 What We Are and What We Will Be 

earth and in that Land of Love, our Master's king- 
dom, and I know all through grace, and love of our 
dear Father, Master and Holy Spirit. I have through 
grace seen angels on earth, and in the Land of Love ; 
had them take me by the hand, lead me and talk to 
me, and tell me many things ; some I remember, some 
not. Oh, the goodness of our Lord King and Elder 
Brother and the angels to an unworthy creature like 
me. I am just a witness of the truth as it is, and ever 
will be. I know also He, our Savior, is coming soon. 
I do not know the hour or the day, but know He with 
the twelve apostles cometh soon. Oh, dear reader, 
make ready, get ready, to meet him. Come, Lord 
Jesus, quickly come. 

Now, please don't understand me to say that I do 
not believe in the resurrection of the carnal body at 
the coming of our Lord and Master, for those that 
will live on this earth ; but those that remain in the 
heavens will not need it. I do believe, but I don't 
know it, though I do know through grace of the indi- 
viduality, and identity and immortality of our beau- 
tiful, living soul, if only begotten of the Holy Spirit. 
In I Thess. 5 : 33, St. Paul says : "May the Lord pre- 
serve your spirit, soul and body." You are a spirit with 
a soul and body. Not a soul and body with a spirit, and 
as a caterpillar sheds his shell and becomes a butterfly, 
first a creeping insect or citizen of the earth then a 
citizen of the air, so do you in passing over become a 



Our SouL-What It Is 27 

citizen of the universe, a citizen of glory or a land 
of darkness. Deut. 32 : 50 : "The Lord said unto 
Moses, Get thee up into the mount Nebo and die 
in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gath- 
ered unto thy people, as Aaron was gathered unto 
that kingdom whose foundation was before the world," 
our Master's kingdom, where Moses and Aaron's 
people were. Luke 20:37: "But the dead are 
raised." Not to be, but are. Our Father is not the God 
of the dead, but of the living. I, like my Master, call 
the living soul my true self, which it is, while our car- 
nal body is only our earthly tabernacle. Luke 16: 20: 
"Now there was a certain rich man, and he was 
clothed in purple and fine linen, fared sumptuously 
every day; and a certain beggar whose name was 
Lazarus was laid at his gate full of sores, and desiring 
to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich 
man's table. Yea, even the dogs came and licked his 
sores. And it came to pass that the beggar died, and 
that he was carried away by the angels unto Abra- 
ham's bosom. And the rich man also died and was 
buried." Now, our Savior makes a statement. He 
does not say there might have been, but that there 
was. In the positive case and past tense. Do you be- 
lieve him? I do. I will take his word against the 
world. This is no parable, but a positive statement of 
an event that occurred, showing clearly and definitely 
that as men live here in this world unto pleasure, self- 



28 What We Are and What We Will Be 

indulgence, mammon and sin, their position in the 
future world to which we are all going has been and 
will be hell. While on the other hand, service to our 
dear Master, and love and gentleness and kindness 
to our fellow-man, and helping to save living souls, we 
became through grace heirs of His salvation. 

Second. We know each other in that other world, 
feel, see, talk, understand and enjoy as our lot will be. 
Also, in that world they that are in the land of dark- 
ness long to send word to their brethren not to come 
to that place of torment, oh, so dark and dreary, 
hovels so wretched where spirits wander, every spir- 
it's hand against all. They understand, talk and suf- 
fer, or enjoy the kingdom of our Master, as their lots 
are. Luke 19:21: "Neither shall they say, Lo here, 
nor Lo there, for the kingdom of God is within you." 
Luke 19:25: "For what is a man profited if he gain 
the whole world and forfeit his own soul." Again, 
Luke 9 : 27 : "But I tell you of a truth there be some 
of them that stand here which shall in no wise taste 
0% death, until they see the kingdom of God. And it 
came to pass about eight days after these sayings, he 
took with him Peter and John and James and went 
up into the mountain to pray. And as he was praying 
the fashion of his countenance was altered and his 
raiment became white and dazzling and behold there 
talked with him two men, which were Moses and Eli- 
jah, who appeared in glory and spake of his decease 



Our Soul— What It Is 29 

which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem." 
Here we see Moses, who had. been buried and his liv- 
ing soul been gathered to his fathers fourteen hundred 
and sixty years before, standing with the Master, 
etherealized, beautified and glorified, talking of that 
act of acts, Jesus' death, that we might live. What 
makes the kingdom of Germany? Germans, is it not? 
What makes America? Americans. What makes our 
Master's kingdom? Living souls. This was what our 
dear Master was showing his apostles, just what by 
the grace of the spirit I am trying to show you, the 
beauty, identity, individuality and immortality of our 
living soul. Oh, so beautiful, if born again and 
washed in Jesus' blood, like an angel. If an angel 
and a living soul of the higher grade, with those 
beautiful white raiments on was standing twenty-five 
feet from you, with his back turned towards you, 
you could not tell which was angel, or which was 
living soul ; but let them turn their faces towards you, 
and the living soul has the same dear features that 
it had on earth, only like Moses and Elijah ethereal- 
ized, glorified and radiant, lovely and beautiful, but 
just the same dear face you knew so well, and greets 
you home at last, with such a lovely welcome, while 
the angel's face is chiseled so perfectly with hair in 
beautiful ringlets, eyes so large and filled with such 
divine love, and are so gentle and kind. In verse 
32 of the same chapter we see that the apostles were 



30 What We Are and What We Will Be 

fully awake, when they saw the Master's glory, and 
Moses and Elijah in their glory and beauty. Our 
heavenly Father approves of this act of our dear 
Savior, and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 
This is my beloved Son, my chosen, hear ye him. 
I say again with Paul, if there is a carnal body there 
is a spiritual body. Let us see what the oldest of the 
divine writers say. Job 14 : 14 : "If a man die shall 
he live again?" He seems to be in doubt here, but 
let us turn to chapter 19:25: "But I know that my 
Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand up at the 
last upon the earth, and after my skin this body be 
destroyed, yet without the flesh shall I see God, whom 
I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold him, 
and not as a stranger." We boast to-day of our 
Christianity. Do you know that your Redeemer liv- 
eth? You know all about a dollar. Do you know 
anything about your living soul? Do you know 
how you will greet or welcome the Master, or will 
you be greeted as a stranger or as a friend? Oh, 
love him just a little and he will love you more. But 
I say not only love him, but adore him, Father, Son, 
and Holy Spirit, ever blessed Trinity. Have we not 
drifted from Jehovah our Master and the Holy 
Spirit, not they from us? What was the mission of 
Jehovah's Son here on earth? To save spirits, was 
it not? His last act on the cross showed it. Even 
during the agonies of death, for you and me, He says 



Our SouU-What It Is 31 

to the thief on the cross, "This day shalt thou be with 
me in paradise." The bones of the thief's carnal body 
were broken and the body buried, but the living soul 
of the repentant thief and robber went with the Mas- 
ter to that land of light and love, his kingdom. Is 
not this a beautiful lesson? No spirit can be so low 
that he will not hear their cry. 

Peter tells us that Jesus preached to the spirits in 
prison. Jesus tells us that the dead should hear his 
voice and live ; and Jesus again says, John 1 1 : 26 : 
"Whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never 
die." We that are begotten of the spirit do not die. 
Before the living soul leaves this shell, or shortly after 
it, we will see our dear reborn ones and the angels. 
It sees the light of those glorious portals where it is 
met by the angels from the Most High, beautiful like 
young men from eighteen to twenty, and faces so 
chiseled, delicate, and fine features so regular that you 
would think they were ladies glorified. Their beauti- 
ful hair hangs in long ringlets and eyes so large and 
powerful filled to overflowing with divine love, so 
gentle, kind and loving. Stephen, when he looked 
up -saw our dear Master on the right hand of our 
dear loving Father. Stonewall Jackson said, "Let 
us cross the river and rest in the shade of those trees.'' 
Think you not that he saw that land of glory the same 
as Stephen saw the Master? And when Moody was 
passing over he said, "The earth recedes and heaven 



32 What We Are and What We Will Be 

approaches. I hear God's angels calling me. I have 
been within the gates, I have seen the children. If 
this is death it is glorious. There is no valley." Think 
you not that this man whose converts to the Lord by 
the spirit were not counted by the thousands, but by 
the hundreds of thousands, saw he not that land of 
glory? And if you and I will live as close to Jesus 
as General Stonewall Jackson and Moody we will 
see the same, and we will see our dear ones when 
the living soul sees through the veil of carnality. He- 
brews 1:14: "Are they not all ministering spirits, 
sent forth to do service to those who shall inherit 
eternal life?" We shall see the dear ones gone on be- 
fore, and some see them at times and hear the glori- 
ous music. Oh, Father, Master, Holy Spirit, help me 
to describe a living soul. Face and features just as 
we knew the dear one here below, only etherealized, 
beautified, radiant and glorified, form so perfect, 
movement graceful, kingly and queenly, raiment so 
fiine and beautiful, they fit the form perfectly. Dif- 
ferent colors, white or white with a golden tinge of 
color. They fold and look like crepe, gauze or silk; 
nothing can compare with their beauty. A smile upon 
their lips, and oh, the heavenly love flowing from 
their eyes as they greet you home at last. Let me 
tell you of a truth, that dear mother, father, sister, 
brother, wife, husband and children, that have passed 
over in Jesus' love awaits you there, longing for you 



Our Soul— What It Is 33 

to come to that eternal home, and wish me to ask 
you. Are you coming to them as you have promised 
to meet them there? They love you more than ever 
and are near you often, trying to help you home to 
your Master's kingdom. I say with Paul, You are a 
spirit with a soul, body and carnal shell. 

Now, I will call your attention to what John saw 
when he was in the spirit. Being in the spirit, and the 
spirit in you, or upon you, are all three different ac- 
tions of the Holy Spirit upon your spirit. Carnal 
things disappear from view and the eternal things, or 
spiritual and internal things, are seen. Being in the 
spirit as John was, is a disassociation, or separation, 
of the spirit and soul from the carnal body, thereby 
enabling the person's true self to ascend to those 
spheres of glory. Rev. 6:9: "And when he opened 
the fifth seal he saw underneath the altar the souls 
of them that had been slain for the word of God." 
There was given to each one of them a white robe. 
He did not see men, but living souls. They had 
tongues and spoke. Forms that were clothed. Rev. 
7:9: "After these things I saw and behold a great 
multitude which no man could number out of every 
nation and of all tribes and peoples and tongues, 
standing before the throne and before the Lamb, ar- 
rayed in white robes, and palm in their hands, and 
they cry with a great voice saying, Salvation unto 
our God which sitteth on the throne and unto the 
3 



34 What We Are and What We Will Be 

Lamb. And all the angels were standing round about 
the throne and the elders and living creatures, and 
they fell before the throne on their faces and wor- 
shiped God, and one of the elders answered saying 
unto me, These which are arrayed in the white robes, 
who are they, and whence came they? and I said 
unto him, My Lord, thou knowest. And he said unto 
me, These are they which came out of great tribula- 
tion and they wash their robes and made them white 
in the blood of the Lamb." Let us consider what John 
saw. First, he saw in heaven around the Father's 
throne living souls, just such bodies as are within 
your body and mine, the eternal part of us, our true 
selves. Just such bodies and forms and beautiful 
faces as he saw on the mountain when he beheld 
Moses and Elijah, etherealized, glorified and beauti- 
ful, and they were from all peoples and nations, 
great multitudes of individualities, but when asked 
the question by the elder who are, they, he was aston- 
ished and could not tell. It was hard for him to real- 
ize that such beautiful bodies were once encased in 
shells or carnal bodies, like yours and mine, now 
seen in the service of the Most High Jehovah, close 
to his person, cared for by him and led by Jesus 
amongst the fountains of life where all is beautiful 
and perfect. In love, oh, love supreme, oh, love 
divine, oh, won't you come and join that multitude? 
I bid you welcome in Jesus' name, and he that will, 



Our Soul— What It Is 35 

let him take of the water of life freely. Yea, thou art 
a spirit with a soul body, a living soul encased in an 
earthly body. Spirit, first principle, eternal, immor- 
tal. Soul, second principle, body of the spirit. Liv- 
ing, soul, same as created in man. 

THE TRANSITION OF LIFE. 

A caterpil'r crawls on the ground; 

A worm disgusting but profound, 
He enters a cocoon like a bee; 

It breaks a butterfly you see. 

As with all life so you and me; 

Lo ! forth we come forever free, 
Our spirit is the I AM to be ; 

Our body — soul ; its birth ! we see. 

PART SECOND. 

With our Father's consent the Master died; 
"To Thy hands I give my spirit," he cried; 
Through their love forever and beautified; 
Spirits made perfect in heaven reside. 



OUR SPIRIT 



Gen. 2:j: "The Lord God formed man of the dust 
of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the 
breath of life, and man became a living soul." First, 
we have the record of our heavenly Father forming 
the earthly body, or tabernacle, of our true body, the 
living soul. Life the spirit, soul the body of the 
spirit. Then . he blew his breath into Adam's nos- 
trils and it became product, living soul — a corpse 
turned into a living creature by our Father impart- 
ing into it a portion of himself. The Spirit — Num. 
16:17: "He is the God of all spirits"; Heb. 2:9: 
"Father of all spirits in the flesh"; John 4:24: 
"Our Father is a spirit and we must worship him in 
spirit and in truth." Again, Jesus says, "I and my 
Father are one" ; therefore, Jesus is spirit and we 
shall be like him. Job 32 : 8 : Dust to the earth as it 
was, and the spirit to God who gave it. A spirit came 
before him, and acting, feeling, walking, impressive 
form, filling every part of our carnal body, and when 
separated from the shell a gaseous substance, refined 
and beautiful, the perfect form of our carnal body 
complete, head, features, just the same, trunk, arms, 



Our Spirit— What It Is 37 

legs and feet exact, this true self walks, drifts at 
great speed when absent from the body, and is the 
controlling and eternal part of our body, which is 
composed of spirit and receives all impressions for 
good from angels and spirits of just ones made per- 
fect that surround us if we so will, or angels of 
darkness or spirits of lower grade if we allow them; 
is our true ego or selves, and as it is clothed upon 
with soul which adheres to our spirits similarly as 
flesh to our bones in the carnal body, so is our beauty 
even like being as angels of our heavenly Father. The 
spirit needs to be fed to produce soul upon the spirit, 
as well as our carnal body to produce flesh upon the 
bones. Spirit is intelligence, inorganic, and needs 
inorganic food. First, Spirit with a soul, celestial 
body; second, Spirit with a soul celestial and an 
earthly body. Our spirit is a portion of our Father 
who is spirit, consequently we are spirit. Again, as 
Paul says, we are spirits in the flesh while on earth, 
no more, no less. Spirit being a part of our dear 
Father is indestructible and eternal, therefore the first 
principle in men, and the only portion but what is 
destructible, therefore our true self or ego, damned 
or blessed, still a spirit, ever a spirit. And Job says, 
"there is a spirit in man," and there is ; I know it. 
Job 4:15: "A spirit passed before my face." Job 
10:11, 12: "Thou hast clothed me with skin and 
flesh, hast fenced me with bones and sinews, thou 



38 What We Are and What We Will Be 

hast granted me life and favor, and thy visitation 
hath preserved my spirit/' Psalms 18: 17, David 
says : "I shall not die, but live." Thou hast become 
my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected 
has become the head of the corner. This is Jehovah's 
doing. He is speaking of Jesus, the evergiving life, 
and Jesus refers to himself as the stone that the build- 
ers rejected, so that David, like Job, knew that he 
would not die, but live. Well did he say, "I com- 
mend my spirit unto thee," to our Father, recogniz- 
ing his spirit as eternal, and our Father as the Father 
of spirits, and our Master the Redeemer of spirits. 
Samuel appeared before Saul. Jesus addressed the 
evil spirits as individual identities. They recognized 
him, called him the Son of the living God, and obeyed 
him as such, and when the apostles saw our Savior 
walking on the water they thought he was spirit. 
This shows the belief and knowledge of the ancients 
down to Jesus and the apostles ; yes, and in their time 
man was considered a spirit and influenced by his 
spiritual surroundings. Gamaliel, at whose feet Paul 
sat, and a leading member of the Sanhedrin, in speak- 
ing of the apostles, says : "If a spirit or angel has 
spoken to them," shows he recognizes spirit and angel 
influence, for he is not the God of the dead but of the 
living, for all live unto him. Matthew 57 : 52 : "And 
came out of their graves after the resurrection and 
went into the holy city, and appeared unto many." 



Our Spirit— What It Is 39 

Pilate is more full in his description of this first res- 
urrection in his letter to Julius Caesar and Tiberius 
Caesar. He says that there were great earthquakes at 
about the third hour in the morning. It became ten 
times brighter than the brightest day and there was 
seen men of tall stature passing through the air shout- 
ing, He is risen, He is risen. Come ye forth from 
hades ; and many of the ancient prophets and kings 
and people, also many of our own age, were seen 
and recognized as they came forth from their graves 
by those living, and I myself saw many of them. So 
says Pilate. And when Jesus showed himself to the 
apostles he was not only spirit, but glorified Jehovah, 
as we will see Him in His glorious kingdom, face to 
face. He was the Son of our dear heavenly Father 
by birthright. Was and ever will be Jehovah; never 
was man, only took unto himself an earthly shell, or 
tabernacle, thereby drawing us to his Father by birth- 
right in sympathy and love, our Father by creation 
and adoption, we a spirit and soul. And Paul tells 
us, I Tim. 9: 10: "Christ Jesus before times eternal, 
but hath now been made manifest by the appearing of 
our Savior, Christ Jesus, who abolished death and 
brought life and immortality to light through the gos- 
pel." This is what I am trying to show you. First, 
I John 4:3: "Judge the spirits." Hereby know ye the 
spirits. You nor I never thought of a wrong act but 
what a sweet, small voice said, "Don't do it," so kind 



40 What We Are and What We Will Be 

and gentle. Another voice says, "Come on and let's 
do it. We will make so much." If you obeyed the first 
voice you felt stronger and better. You were. You 
had obeyed a good spirit or angel and accumulated 
a certain amount of soul on your spirit, but if you 
obeyed the evil spirit you are weak and ashamed, 
especially when you met the party you had wronged. 
Yes, you sinned and destroyed a portion of the soul 
on your spirit. Judge ye the spirits. There is no such 
thing as conscience, only as a product. We are con- 
trolled as we will by our invironments, powers, an- 
gels or spirits in the flesh or out of the flesh. Job 
says there is a spirit in man. Not mind or breath, but 
a spirit (ranch). And the inspiration of the Almighty 
giveth Him an understanding. In the thirty-four 
books of the Old Testament the two original words, 
ranch, meaning spirit, and, nephesh, meaning soul, 
are never confounded, but kept clear and distinct. 
In the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, 
pneuma, meaning spirit, or" psnche, meaning soul, are 
not confounded, nor are they used in the place of 
each other in the original. They are not even synony- 
mous. Well did Paul say in Heb. 4: 12, "The word of 
God is living and active and sharper than any two- 
edged sword and piercing even to the dividing of 
soul and spirit." Do we read the Bible as Paul did? 
If not had we not better read it as he did, and try 
and understand it as he did? Job 12 : 10: "And a spirit 



Our Spirit— What It Is 41 

came before him" (ranch) shows here to be a walking, 
talking, conscientious spirit. Our Savior in address- 
ing spirits of the evil one never called them souls. 
He tells us the soul can be destroyed, but never the 
spirit. It is a potent individuality, a portion of our 
heavenly Father, and is eternal and immortal. Fear 
not him who can destroy the body only, but rather 
fear him who can destroy both body and soul. Our 
heavenly Father is a spirit, and we must worship him 
in spirit and truth. In Psa. 31:5, David says, "Into 
thy hands I commit my spirits." Stephen says, "Lord 
Jesus, receive my spirit." Jesus, Luke 23 : 46, "Father 
into thy hands I commend my spirit." Paul and John 
saw the spirits of just men made perfect. Moses and 
Elijah when with our Master on the mount were spir- 
its of just men made perfect, living souls — just such 
bodies as are in you and me in a state of completion. 
I also know that we are no more, no less, than spirits 
in the flesh, accumulating or destroying soul on or 
off of our spirits while here below in this workshop, 
our earth, where spirits are made — just as you cut a 
twig from a willow tree and plant it you produce a 
willow tree, or plant a joint of cane and you produce 
a hill of cane. Like produces like, environments be- 
ing fair, and will multiply in proportion as it is 
planted. Luke 8 : 54, 55 : When Jesus raised Jairus' 
daughter from the dead he "taking her by the hand, 
called, saying, Maiden, arise, and her spirit returned 



42 What We Are and What We Will Be 

and she arose up immediately." Note, it was her spir- 
it, not her soul, that returned. First, we are begotten 
of the spirit of our heavenly Father and Master when 
our spirit turns from evil unto good, from serving 
Satan to serving Jesus. Then we are born of the 
spirit when we pass over to that other country, the 
Great Spiritual Universe, each one going to his own 
place and people as he has lived here below, some to 
a land of darkness, despair and terror, others to a 
land of glory, our Master's kingdom. The great 
question is, Where shall I spend eternity? When 
we were born into this world, others were here to 
care for us. When we are born in the other spheres, 
if we have lived near to Jesus or called on his name, 
generally our dearest loved ones that have passed 
over before will be there to greet and care for us, as 
well as an angel of light. They cheer and guide us 
and escort us to that land of love. Oh, joyous birth, 
oh, glorious land, oh, all glory to thee, our Savior, 
who died that we might live. Not die, no not even 
die easy, a spirit of a just one made perfect; a spirit 
now, a spirit then ; a spirit glorified, clothed upon with 
soul, forever our celestial bodies, beautified and glori- 
fied, residents of a spiritual land, our Master's king- 
dom. 

There are four words translated spirit, ruach, 
pneuma, neshamah, phanasma, ncshamah, last mean- 
ing breath of life, and rendered, "spirit" but twice. 



Our Spirit— What It Is 43 

When His disciples saw our Master walking on the 
water they said, It is a spirit (phantasma) . In this 
place they express the common belief in the spirit or 
the presence of spirits. Pilate, in his report to Caesar, 
says that at the resurrection of our Master the spir- 
its of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jonah, Job, Isaiah, 
David, as well as many others were seen and recog- 
nized by the Jews, and that he himself also saw many 
spirits, also angels. Nicodemus in his gospel tells us 
that the two sons of Simon, the high priest who took 
Jesus in his arms, and blessed him and praised our 
heavenly Father for having lived to see him, were 
recognized and that Ananias Capias, Nicodemus and 
Joseph, and Gamaliel went and did not find them in 
their graves, but found them on their knees in prayer, 
and brought them to the temple, and took the Bible 
and put it in their hands and swore them by God 
Adonai and the God of Israel. If ye believe Him 
who raised you from the dead, tell us what ye have 
seen, how ye were raised from the dead. And they 
asked for paper to write it down. (Our Savior ap- 
peared in hades ; His releasing of the captive spirits 
from hades.) He appeared to us suddenly in great 
beauty and power, and stretched forth his hands, 
said, Come to me, my saints, who were created in my 
image, and taking Adam by his right hand, he as- 
cended from hades, and all the saints of God followed 
Him. Then they all broke forth in praise unto the 



44 What We Are and What We Will Be 

Lord of hosts, also relating the meeting in Paradise 
of our Lord and Master, with Adam, and the hosts 
redeemed by his blood; also with Elisha, Enoch and 
the thief, who turned to our Master when on the 
cross, and when they had finished they said, Peace 
be unto you from the Lord God Jesus Christ and 
Savior of us all ; they were then changed into exceed- 
ingly white forms and disappeared. Thus was ful- 
filled the prophecy of Jesus that the dead should have 
the gospel preached unto them. And Peter tells us 
that he preached to the spirits which were in the 
prison, that lived during the time of Noah, and many 
did repent and live. That prison is just as real to-day 
as then. Spirits that pass out that have lived wickedly 
without soul, their soul having been destroyed by sin. 
As I live, saith the Lord God Almighty, the soul that 
sinneth it shall die; they live in a land of darkness, 
wretched, without hope, in perfect terror of each 
other and spirits of the evil one — a land so barren and 
dreary. I do pray that our heavenly Father will send 
his Son, or angels, and redeem them soon, if such 
can be. How are the dead raised, and with what 
manner of body do they come? They come as the 
grain comes by the seed. The seed does not rise. It 
remains and moulds in the earth. The body does not 
rise. It remains and moulders in the earth, but our 
Father gives us a body as it pleaseth Him, to each 
spirit a body of his own, as He has lived on this earth 



Our Spirit— What It Is 45 

and put on immortality, through love and light. Oh, 
my dear friends, I pray thou may not be found naked, 
but be clothed upon with soul. The word of Jesus 
to those that live a Christlike life, and children, is, 
"Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid 
them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." 
The great trouble of the age is even that some of our 
ministers of the gospel depend more on the lexicons 
and dictionaries than they do on the Bible. The writ- 
ers of lexicons and dictionaries never made a word, 
they only report on them, and like mercantile agencies 
they are sometimes right and sometimes wrong. Let 
us depend more on our guardian angel's influence, on 
our spirit with right understanding, pray our Master 
to help us understand, like Paul, through grace. 
I Cor. 15:4, "And that he was buried, and that he 
hath been raised on the third day according to the 
scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to 
the twelve, then he appeared to above five hundred 
brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain 
until now." A spirit Jehovah beheld by many breth- 
ren. 

Oh, brother and sister, father, mother, daughter or 
son, don't go to that land of darkness, but turn to 
Jesus and live. Do good and forget not the guidance 
of your guardian angel that speaks so kindly, gently 
and lovingly to you, and have your spirit clothed upon 
with soul until it will be as beautiful as Moses and 



46 What We Are and What We Will Be 

Elijah on the mount with the Master, who loved us 
and died for us that we might live, or like those that 
John saw around our Father's throne. In this line 
our dear Master cried, "Into thy hands, Father, I 
commend my spirit" ; and when Stephen was stoned, 
his carnal body crushed and bleeding, cried, "Lord 
Jesus, receive my spirit." His spirit with his soul, the 
body of the spirit, ascended on high, a spirit of a just 
one made perfect in love. Now, through grace I have 
seen, embraced and handled the spirits of just ones 
made perfect. Through the love of our Father and 
Master I know of what I write. The purity of love, 
the beauty and glory of our loved ones, and their 
lovely welcome — of home at last, our spiritual home, 
our Master's kingdom. Dear friend, I know of a cer- 
tainty that those who have passed over in Jesus' love 
live a life that is just as, glorious, and they wait and 
long to welcome you home. Won't you come and live 
with the angels and dear ones in that land of love, 
blessed land? All life has its laws, and if we obey 
the laws of a spiritual life we have a right to a spirit- 
ual life. There are laws of the body, and if one obeys 
the laws he has the right to health. So there are laws 
of the spirit, and if one complies with them he has the 
right to a spiritual life, because it is the life of the 
spirit, is eternal. We are continually surrounded by 
angels of our heavenly Father. The apostle tells us 
they are ministering spirits sent forth to do service 



Our Spirit— What It Is 47 

to those who shall inherit salvation, also the spirits of 
just ones made perfect. Our mothers, fathers, sis- 
ters, brothers and sons, and friends by the will of our 
Father in heaven, and the love of his only begotten 
Son, Jesus, come often to us with messages of love 
and wisdom, and try to lead and prepare us to go 
home with them. Oh, listen to them and your guar- 
dian angel that speaks to you. When you think of 
doing a wrong, a voice says to you, Don't do it. You 
probably call it conscience. It is a spirit impressing 
you, your spirit. Obey it always. Do right and it 
will be well with you. All sin is forgiven unto man 
except sin against the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit 
of God in triune form. Sin is a non-conformity or 
transgression, so do conform thereto. Always try the 
spirits that impress you ; if they lead to good, peace 
and joy, obey them ; but if to anger, malice or wrong, 
either to yourselves, our heavenly Father or our fel- 
low-man, obey them not. They are of the evil one, 
who seeks to destroy your soul, and thereby obtain 
possession of your spirit, and finally escort you to 
that land of darkness. You say you do not see them. 
Neither do you see electricity before it enters the or- 
ganic state ; that is the positive and negative come 
together. Then you see a spark or a flash, but the 
electricity existed before you saw it, and every step 
you take a certain amount of it passes through you, 
carrying a certain amount of aroma, which is peculiar 



48 What We Are and What We Will Be 

to each person, leaving thereby a scent that a dog can 
follow, even crossing other person's tracks; yet you 
don't see it, but the dog smells it — a positive proof 
that it exists. So you see it does not do to say a thing 
does not exist just because we do not see it with our 
carnal eyes. You may not have seen a spirit. Men 
and women of every age testify that they have. Photo- 
graphs have been taken of them. They have been 
seen, known, recognized, even while the person was 
still in the flesh or an inhabitant of this earth, the 
spirit and part of the soul being miles away from the 
carnal body. Spiritualism is true ; so is spiritism. In 
a way spiritualism is the association of ourselves with 
angels of light, spirits of just ones made perfect, or 
the spiritual powers of our Master and Father; in 
association with all pure or that try to be pure. We 
never go inside of a church but that we associate with 
the angels of the most high, as they rendezvous there 
and go from there on their missions of mercy. To 
meet in prayer in a light room, the lighter the better, 
and hold intercourse with the higher powers is bene- 
ficial, but to go into a dark room or saloon is to court 
the spirits of darkness or those that wander on or in 
this earth's sphere. They are dangerous and hurtful. 
They do not seem to understand anything about the 
upper spheres, are cunning and deceitful, just as they 
were on earth, only more knowledge of earthly things 
at times, and working for the retention of all spirits 



Our Spirit— What It Is 49 

in the flesh, for their spheres. They deny the Savior, 
and as John said, are anti-Christ. So in all cases 
avoid them. This is spiritism, not spiritualism. The 
latter elevates. Spiritism degenerates, and is very 
dangerous. Associate with good and you will become 
better; associate with evil and you will become more 
evil, either in the flesh or out of the flesh. And I am 
sorry to see some of the soldiers of Jesus, and serv- 
ants of the Most High Spirit, our Father, let go of 
the banner of spiritualism, just because a few spiritists 
have tried to claim it. As a true soldier should never 
abandon the fort nor his colors, never run but ad- 
vance, investigate, conquer and report. Then turn to 
Jesus, the author and finisher of our knowledge, faith 
and love, and live as near as possible the life he lived, 
not only loving, but adoring the Father, His Son Je- 
sus, His Son by birthright, and the Holy Spirit, and 
come to His kingdom. In His name I bid you wel- 
come to that land of love, purity, beauty, a spiritual 
kingdom, His kingdom, our home. Wherefore, we are 
a spirit in the flesh now, shall be a spirit found naked 
in the land of darkness, or a spirit clothed upon with 
soul in that land of love. A spirit forever, saved or 
lost — which shall it be? 



50 What We Are and What We Will Be 



LIFE. 

Spirit of God, indite my lyre! 
Touch Thou my pen with living fire 
As unto earth I now proclaim 
The honors of my Savior's name. 

He suffered death new life to give — 
'Tis life through birth we must receive — 
New life that has no part in death, 
Eternal life called the new birth. 

The law of life writ on our heart — 
To fructify the spirit part — 
Real life ! — true life ! so freely given, 
Began on earth, but child of heaven. 

The old corn dies, new life shoots forth — 
The soul it lives with spirit worth. 
The body dies because of sin, 
Which law is dead to all within. 

Yes, dies because it has no part 
In affections ruling of the heart; 
The soul to Christ's own life aspires — 
To body, 'tis a thousand fires. 

Up, then, Christ's living of to-day! 
Launch forth thy bark upon the bay! 
The Christ, the Christ forsook the earth, 
So also you at the new birth. 

Exalted be above the world, 
Nor be in it by passion whirled. 
Christ is our life — he's gone before — 
Launch out, launch out ! well from the shore. 

No death have we who love the Lord; 
Receive this truth, tell it abroad, 
For we from death have been made free 
By Christ's own law of liberty. 

A. Phinney. 



DEATH 



Gen. 2: 17: "In the day that thou eatest thereof, 
thou shalt surely die." This is spoken by our heav- 
enly Father to Adam, earthly father of us all. He 
transgressed and died, so all inherit death through 
him. Eccl. 18:32: "For why will ye die, O house of 
Israel, for I have no pleasure in him that dieth, saith 
the Lord; wherefore turn yourselves and live ye." 
Eccl. 18:4: "The soul that sinneth shall die." I Chron. 
15:4 and Jer. 31:30: "Every man shall die for his 
own sin." We have our dear heavenly Father's say- 
ing, He has no pleasure in the death of the sinner, but 
requesteth him to turn and live. Rom. 5 : 14, Paul 
tells us death reigns from Adam to Moses. Rom. 18: 
3 : "If ye live after the flesh ye shall die." So you 
see in every instance death and sin go hand in hand ; 
they are partners, and always associated with each 
other. Sin, death and Satan, I should have said, are 
complete partners, for the destruction of soul and 
body, and retention of spirit. (Spirit our true ego, 
the I am and ever will be. Soul body of the spirit, 
and what we call body, our earthly shell.) Darkness 
invariably accompanies this trio of destroyers — sin, 



52 What We Are and What We Will Be 

Satan and death. Some claim that Satan has been 
bound over since the Reformation. All I have to say, 
is, if so, he has some elegant representatives here on 
earth. I know the wages of sin is death. Have you 
ever stood at the death bed of an unrepenting sinner, 
and heard him cry out, "Oh, the demons are here. 
Don't you see that one coming after me? See, he is 
right beside me. Keep him back. Don't let him get 
me. Also that man I wronged. He is with him; he 
is striking me ; now keep them away ; don't let them 
have me." Did you not feel as though you could al- 
most see them as he described them in his agony and 
struggles? All in vain, and you unable to help him. 
Again, did you not know that what is called the 
hallucinations of a person in delirium tremens are real ? 
More real than you think. All that occurs is the soul, 
or most of it has been eaten off of his spirit by liquor, 
which in proportion as you drink, eats the soul off the 
spirit, just as aqua fortis eats the flesh, and leaves just 
a naked spirit in the body, lower than a brute. Man- 
hood lost, soul lost, bound for the land of darkness, 
and the strain of the spirit on the shell or carnal body 
causes the dilation of the pupil of the eye, and he 
just sees his environments. These objects that he sees 
will be his companions in eternity, if he should pass 
out in that state. This is death. There is not a dive 
or saloon on earth that the angels of Satan and lost 
spirits do not make their headquarters, and go forth 



Death— What It Is 53 

from there on their missions of destruction. If you 
are a clairvoyant, as you passed a saloon you could see 
the poor, wretched, naked spirits reaching, crying, 
struggling to get liquor, but cannot. If you are a 
clairaudiant, you could hear their cries, oh, blasphem- 
ous, most horrible. (Saloons are the recruiting offices 
of the chain gang and hell.) Are these to be your as- 
sociates in eternity? Faces and features the same as 
on earth, only distorted with disappointment, fear and 
terror, forms like skeletons, bodies not luminous but 
blotched. One or the other you must be, a lost spirit 
or a saved one. Which shall it be? Satan, his lost 
spirits and angels are battling to obtain victims here 
for the land of darkness. Woe, woe, to those, who 
do not call on Jesus, that have lived a life of sin or 
neglected their salvation. (Regarding liquor ; science 
proves that "alcohol is a poison. Not a food; a nar- 
cotic, irritant, and not a stimulant which gives 
strength ; that it cannot sustain the body in weariness, 
and is injurious in the extreme of heat or cold, and 
that as a medicine there are better substitutes.") You 
have no reason for drinking it that is justifiable. 
Don't touch it, dear one. It's Satan's beverage, brewed 
to win spirits for death and hell. There are those 
that make money their god. There are those that 
make earthly pleasure their god. There are those 
that neglect to obey that sweet, small voice to turn 
from death and live. If they do not call upon Jesus, 



54 What We Are and What We Will Be 

all are lost. Are you of this number, father, mother, 
brother, sister, child? If so, forsake them. If so, for- 
sake those gods. Turn to Jesus and live. Paul says, 
I Cor. 15: 27: "As in Adam all die, so in Christ shall 
all be made alive." Joel, Peter and Paul say, "Who- 
soever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be 
saved." Passing out and being received by an angel 
of darkness is not all. It is only the prelude or com- 
mencement of an eternity of woe, shut out from the 
light of heaven, away form your dear ones that you 
loved on earth now in heaven. Alone and in a land 
of darkness, haunted by demons and other lost spirits, 
the same that destroyed your soul from off your spirit 
on earth, in fear and terror and horror, anguish in a 
barren, dry, rocky, mountainous land, with gulches 
deep and broad, narrow paths dark and dreary, caves 
and cliffs, homes of spirits that lost their souls. Dear 
one, don't go there ; don't die. Just turn to Jesus and 
live. As you walk the streets of your city or town or 
vicinity, look in the faces of all true Christians and 
see if you cannot discern a brightness and clearness, 
and glance in their eyes and you will discern a gentle, 
lovelike look. Under all troubles and tribulations, 
what causes it ? It is the sweet, loving spirit of Christ, 
the ever-living fountain. Now, look in the faces of 
those who are in pursuit of worldly joys or worldly 
gain to the exclusion of religious joys or the de- 
bauchee. What do you see? You see a tired, disap- 



Death— What It Is 55 

pointed look, or a hard, cruel cast, or a disappointed, 
sad and wretched look, sometimes blotched and bloat- 
ed. The difference is, one is alive, the other is dead. 
Ye are yet dead in your sins, says Paul. The face is a 
true index of the character and soul condition, the 
eye the window of the spirit. Now look, dear one, in 
the looking-glass and study well your face and see 
where you stand. The first has joys untold here on 
earth and a mansion, and their dearest ones departed 
waiting for them and will live with them in that land 
of love. The second has no balm for their trouble, 
trial and tribulations, only ever pursuing enemies. No 
hope in eternity, only a cave or a cliff on the side of 
a rugged, barren mountain as a home. Perchance, 
if not so dead, a cabin where in terror, woe and an- 
guish, not to meet the dear father, mother, child, sis- 
ter or friend of this world. "Lost! Lost! Oh, if I 
could be unmade, is the cry and general wail of the 
lost spirit." Awake! Awake! Call on Christ, who 
alone can save you; and then with joy, not shame, 
you shall meet that dear father, mother, child, brother, 
sister or friend, enfold them to your arms in pure joy 
and love untold, but most of all, see Jesus face to 
face and live. May the holy angels help you to call, 
believe and receive and live, that if we do not meet in 
the flesh we will clasp glad hands in that land of love. 
Oh, that I could turn all spirits in the flesh back, back 
from that land of darkness, from death, to our Mas- 



56 What We Are and What We Will Be 

ter's kingdom, to life eternal. I bid you, dear reader, 
a welcome, in my Master's name, to that land of light 
and love and glory. Oh, come, pray, come and live, 
not die. 

TRUE FREEDOM. 

'Tis strange indeed, though fact it be, 
That Jesus died upon the tree, 
From Death, to set its captives free, 
Who, captive, cannot freedom see. 

Vile sin has so enchained man's will, 
That death and all attendant ill 
Entice and hold him bondman still. 
And with this world his senses fill. 

E'en those who claim to love Christ's name, 
And claim his life, and praise his fame, 
Are mostly worldlings just the same, 
As if through death, his kingdom came ! 

'Tis flesh alive by life of God, 
And death to life that's of the sod, 
That takes away the scourging rod, 
That's sinful flesh's eternal prod. 

As went the Master through the grave, 
From death his trusting friends to save. 
He thus to them that emblem gave — 
That death in life real death should waive ! 

A death in life to flesh and sense ; 

A life in flesh that's not from hence; 

A spirit life that is from whence 

Our Savior's death made him life's Prince. 

Then come! O come! this life receive! 

I pray do not yourself deceive ; 

Do not the Holy Spirit grieve, 

But Christ-life take, and death-life leave! 

A. Phinney. 



SPIRIT BIRTH 



John ii : 26: "Whosoever liveth and believeth in 
me shall never die," "whosoever keepeth my word 
shall never see death," or "Whosoever keepeth my say- 
ings shall in no wise taste death." These are the tri- 
une statements of Jesus. Again, "Verily, verily, I say 
unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see 
the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh 
is flesh, but that which is born of the spirit is spirit." 
Who is the party speaking? It is Jesus, the Son of 
our heavenly Father, by birthright. He was, and ever 
will be, Jehovah. He is addressing Nicodemus, a 
senator of Israel and a member of the Sanhedrin, 
the only disciple of Jesus that understood him before 
his resurrection. How do we know this? By his ac- 
tions and defense of our Master before Pilate. When 
Jesus was arraigned before Pilate, charged with many 
crimes falsely, but two they proved, first changing 
the day of worship from the seventh to the first; sec- 
ond, making Himself the Son of our heavenly Father. 
Xicodemus came forward as his attorney, which was 
according to the Roman law, and when he did the 
Jews called out in derision, You, Nicodemus, a senator 



58 What We Are and What We Will Be 

of our nation and a member of our Sanhedrin, plead- 
ing for Jesus? He answered, Yes, I am pleading for 
Jesus, and will cast my lot with him in this world and 
in His kingdom which is to come. Nicodemus was a 
Pharisee. He believed in a spirit, and angel and res- 
urrection, and existence of a spiritual kingdom, and 
for the sake of that kingdom, and his love of Jesus, 
he sacrificed his earthly home. Now, we are ready 
to consider what Jesus and Nicodemus were talking 
about. It was a plain birth and Jesus said, That which 
is born of the flesh is flesh, but that which is born of 
the spirit is spirit. It is no more flesh but spirit. Our 
Master tells us that after we are born again, we are 
as an angel ; also that it is a heavenly knowledge 
that he is teaching him ; He being the Son of our 
heavenly Father knew all. Now, as Paul states, he 
was in the third heaven, as well as Paradise. We 
are composed of spirit, soul and body. He also states 
if there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 
Also the first man Adam became a living soul. The 
second Jesus became a life-giving spirit. Tim. 1 : 10: 
''Christ Jesus who abolished death and brought life 
and immortality to light through the gospel." Jesus 
also saith to Pilate that he could call twelve legions 
of angels. He showed where his kingdom is. In 
passing over, first, as the worldly veil on our face 
grows thin, and the optical nerve and pupil of our eye 
expands, we see the dearest ones of ours that has 



Spirit Birth — What It Is 59 

passed over. They welcome us and we know and hear 
them. We also see an angel of the Most High in all 
his beauty who commands us to come forth, and forth 
we come. We look back on that body we wore on 
earth like a chicken to the shell it left, or the cater- 
pillar upon the cocoon when he has become a butterfly, 
or a cast-off garment. We care no more for it than 
we do for the old tooth we had pulled years ago, and 
we wonder why our dear friends are crying over the 
body, as it is not us, nor the I, and try to comfort 
them; but they will not heed us. We now look at 
ourselves and see we have a complete and beautiful 
body, with robes so white and fine, also to the dear 
living souls around us, and the angel of light, who 
takes our hand in his, and the dear spirits of the just 
ones made perfect surround us, and upward we drift 
along a road so straight and beautiful, to a light we 
see in the distance, which is the pearl gates of that 
land of love, our Master's kingdom. On the left we 
pass a road that leads to the land of darkness. It looks 
a shady, beautiful place to rest in. Oh, sad is the con- 
dition of those en route to that land of darkness in 
custody of the angels of darkness. Sad are their 
faces, deep and long their groans, poor, naked spirits 
with a grayish robe over them, with faces like a con- 
vict under the lash. As you have done to others, so 
shall it be done to you. Call upon Jesus while you 
can, and don't go to that woeful land. They take 



60 What We Are and What We Will Be 

this road to the left, while we in the care of the glo- 
rious angel drift onward to the land of love. It grows 
more beautiful now as you proceed along this grand 
highway — trees, homes, similar to earth, but more 
beautiful. When we arrive at the portals we are 
greeted by one; of the apostles, and angels of beauty. 
They look so lovely, faces so perfect, large eyes so 
filled with divine love, so kingly in their forms and 
actions, robes so white, hands and fingers tapering 
almost to a point, oh, so lovely and perfect; yet just 
as gentle and kind as Jesus was. At first glance you 
would think they were beautiful ladies, their hair 
hanging in ringlets over their shoulders. Oh, that 
joyous greeting as they take you by the hand. How 
the glory flows through you. Oh, the childlike, joy- 
ous love that fills you, and as you enter that land you 
cast a glance back, and see the straight road you have 
come on to that land of light and glory. The light is 
a golden azure, no sun nor moon nor stars, lovely 
golden light everywhere, it seems food, drink and 
strengthens you. The air* is fragrant and invigorates 
you. As you enter you see a land of immensity. Your 
eyes are stronger and you can see much farther than 
with the best telescope on earth. On the left is a park, 
trees, such models in form, no leaf extending beyond 
the other, all of different colors, and especially a great 
number of shades of green. Grass like plush, with 
small flowers of so many varieties, and shrubs, many 



Spirit Birth— What It Is 61 

more than on earth and much more beautiful. Roses, 
even, have no thorns. Shady walks and fountains 
lovely to behold, where move about in all directions 
angels and beautiful spirits clothed in robes of white, 
like driven snow or with a yellow golden tinge, all 
bent on the enjoyment of each other, greeting, smiling 
pleasantly to each other and to us new comers in that 
land of love. Whosoever believeth on Jesus shall 
never die. Glory to his name ! Dear reader, do be- 
lieve, live and may the Holy Spirit help you to believe, 
that death is birth and is an occurrence in a continued 
life. 

BIRTH NOT DEATH. 

Birth is not death, death is not birth, you see, 
These two never have, never will agree; 
Jesus died that we in heaven may be, 
Spirit birth he gave, O ! sweet birth to thee. 

This birth redeems us from our earthly clay 
Through it we enter everlasting day, 
Not death, birth you see, immortality; 
Birth, O ! joy, individuality. 

At birth we meet our dear ones from above 
With them we enter everlasting love. 
Oh, no! no! death to those who love our Lord, 
Sweet birth ! Dearest truth ! Tell it all abroad. 



A SPIRITj jBORN 

as seen by 
Dr. Andrew Jackson Davis. 



Who was a Prophet and One of the Greatest Clair- 
voyants of the Age. 

The philosophy of death is the philosophy of change ; 
not of change in the constitution or personality of 
the individual, but of change in the situation of human 
spiritual principle, which, instead of being situated in 
an earthly body, is placed in a spiritual organization, 
and instead of living among the objects and person- 
alities of the planet upon which the individual spirit 
was born, its situation is so altered as to fit it to live 
amidst more beautiful forms in higher societies. Be- 
lieve not that what is called death is a final termina- 
tion to human existence, nor that the change is so 
thorough and entire as to alter and destroy the con- 
stitutional peculiarities of the individual ; but believe 
equitably that death causes as much alteration in the 
condition of the individual as the bursting of a rose- 
bud causes in the situation and condition of the flower. 
Death is, therefore, only an event, only a circumstance 



A Spirit Born— What It Is 63 

in the eternal life and experience of the human soul. 
In other language, death is simply a birth into a new 
and more perfect state of existence. Nature, which is 
the only true and unchangeable revelation of the di- 
vine kind, is replete with the most beautiful and 
demonstrative analogies, or with universal processes 
which perfectly correspond to the phenomena of phys- 
ical dissolution. Everything is being incessantly born 
again, or changed from one state of being into an- 
other; and this change is accompanied* accomplished 
and confirmed by traditional movements or processes 
which mankind term death. 

And this is but a door which opens into a new and 
more perfect existence. It is a triumphal arch through 
which man's immortal spirit passes at the moment of 
leaving the outer world to depart to a higher, sub- 
limer, a more magnificent country. And there is really 
nothing more painful or repulsive in the natural pro- 
cess of dying (that which is not induced by disease 
or accident) than there is in passing into a quiet, 
pleasant and dreamless slumber. The truthfulness of 
this proposition is remarkably illustrated and con- 
firmed by the following observations and investiga- 
tions into the physiological and psychological phe- 
nomena of death, which I was qualified to make upon 
the person of a diseased individual, at the moment of 
physical dissolution. The patient was a female about 
sixty years of age. 



64 What We Are and What We Will Be 

When the hour of her death arrived, I was fortun- 
ately in the proper state of body and mind to induce 
the superior condition (clairvoyant trance state). I 
saw that the physical organization could no longer 
subserve the requirements of the spiritual principle. 
But the various internal organs of the body appeared 
to resist the withdrawal of the animating soul. The 
body and the soul, like two friends, strongly resisted 
the various circumstances, which rendered their eter- 
nal separation imperative and absolute. These inter- 
nal conflicts gave rise to manifestations of what 
seemed to be, to the material senses, the most thrill- 
ing and painful sensations; but I was unspeakably 
thankful and delighted when I perceived and realized 
the fact that those physical manifestations were indi- 
cations, not of pain or unhappiness, but that the spirit 
was eternally dissolving its copartnership with the ma- 
terial organization. 

Now, the head of the body became suddenly envel- 
oped in a fine, soft, mellow, luminous atmosphere; 
and, as instantly I saw the cerebrum and the cere- 
bellum expand to their most interior portions ; I saw 
them discontinue their appropriate galvanic functions; 
and then I saw that they became highly charged with 
vital electricity, and vital magnetism that permeates 
subordinate systems and structures. That is to say, 
the brain as a whole suddenly declared itself to be 
tenfold more positive over the lesser portions of the 



A Spirit Born— What It Is 65 

body than it ever was during the period of health. 
This phenomena invariably precedes physical dissolu- 
tion. Now, the process of dying, or of the spirit's 
departure from the body, was fully commenced. The 
brain began to attract the elements of electricity, of 
magnetism, of motion, of life and of sensation, into its 
various and numerous departments. The head became 
intensely brilliant; and I particularly remarked that 
just in the same proportion as the extremities of the 
organization grew dark and cold, the brain appeared 
light and glowing. 

Now, I saw in the mellow, spiritual atmosphere, 
which emanated from, and encircled her head, the in- 
distinct outlines of the formation of another head. 
This new head unfolded more and more distinctly; 
and so indescribably compact and intensely brilliant 
did it become, that I could neither see through it nor 
gaze upon it steadily as I desired. While this spiritual 
head was being eliminated and organized out of and 
above the material head, I saw that the surrounding 
aromal atmosphere which had emanated from the ma- 
terial head was in great commotion; but as the new 
head became more distinct and perfect, this brilliant 
atmosphere gradually disappeared. 

In the identical manner in which the spiritual head 
was eliminated and unchangeably organized, I saw, 
unfolding in their natural progressive order, the har- 
monious development of the neck, the shoulders, the 

5 



66 What We Are and What We Will Be 

breast and the entire spiritual organization. The de- 
fects and deformities of her physical body were in the 
spiritual body which I saw thus developed, almost 
completely removed. 

While this spiritual formation was going on, which 
was perfectly visible to my spiritual perception, the 
material body manifested to the outward vision of the 
observing individual in the room many symptoms of 
uneasiness and pain, but these indications were totally 
deceptive. They were wholly caused by the departure 
of the vital or spiritual forces from the extremities 
and viscera into the brain, and thence into the ascend- 
ing organism. The spirit rose at right angles over the 
head of the brain of the deserted body, but immedi- 
ately previous to the final dissolution of the relation- 
ship, which had for so many years subsisted between 
the two, the spiritual and the material bodies, I saw 
playing energetically between the feet of the elevated 
spiritual body and the head of the prostrate physical 
body, a bright stream or current of vital electricity. 
This taught me what is customarily called death is but 
the birth of a spirit, from a lower into a higher state ; 
that an inferior body and mode of existence are ex- 
changed for a superior body and corresponding en- 
dowments, and capabilities of happiness. I learned 
that the correspondence between the birth of a child 
into this world, and the birth of the spirit from the 
material body into a higher world is absolute and 



A Spirit Born— What It Is 67 

complete, even to the umbilical cord, which was rep- 
resented by the thread of vital electricity, which for a 
few minutes subsisted between and connected the two 
organisms together. And here I perceived, what I had 
never before obtained a knowledge of, that a small 
portion of this vital electric element returned to the 
deserted body, immediately subsequent to the sepa- 
ration of the umbilical thread; and that portion of 
element which passed back into the earthly organism 
instantly diffused itself throughout the entire struc- 
ture, and thus prevented immediate decomposition. 
I saw her continue to conform and accustom herself 
to the new elements and elevating sensations which 
belong to the inner life. I did not particularly notice 
the workings and emotions of her newly awakened 
and fast-unfolding 'spirit ; except that I was careful 
to remark her philosophic tranquillity throughout the 
entire process and her non-participation with the dif- 
ferent members of her family in their unrestrained be- 
wailing of her departure from the earth. 

Could you but turn your natural gaze from the life- 
less body, which can no longer respond to your look 
of love, and could your spiritual eyes be opened, you 
would behold standing in your midst a form, the same, 
but more beautiful and loving. 

The period required to accomplish this entire 
change which I saw, was not far from two hours and 
a half; but this furnishes no rule as to the time re- 



68 What We Are and What We Will Be 

quired for every spirit to elevate and reorganize itself 
above the head of the outward form. 

Without changing my position or spiritual percep- 
tions, I continued to observe the movements of her 
new-born spirit. As soon as she became accustomed 
to the new elements which surrounded her, she de- 
scended from her elevated position, which was imme- 
diately over the body, by an effort of the will power, 
and directly passed out of the door of the bedroom, 
in which she had lain (in the material form) pros- 
trated with disease for several weeks. It being in the 
summer months, the doors were all open, and her 
egress from the house was attended with no obstruc- 
tions. I saw her pass through an adjoining room, out 
of the door, and step from the house into the atmos- 
phere ! I was overwhelmed with* delight and aston- 
ishment when, for the first time, I realized the uni- 
versal truth that the spiritual organization can tread 
the atmosphere, which, while in the coarse, earthly 
form we breathe so much more refined in man's spir- 
itual constitution. She walked on the atmosphere as 
easily, and in the same manner, as we tread the earth, 
and ascended an eminence. 

Immediately upon her emergement from the house, 
she was joined by two friendly spirits from the spir- 
itual country, and after tenderly recognizing and com- 
muning with each other, the three in the most grace- 
ful manner began ascending obliquely through the 



A Spirit Bom—What It Is 69 

ethereal envelopments of our globe. They walked so 
naturally and so fraternally together that I could 
scarcely realize the fact that they trod the air. They 
seemed to be walking upon the side of a glorious but 
familiar mountain. I continued to gaze upon them un- 
til the distance shut them from my view; whereupon 
I returned to my external and ordinary condition. 

NEW BIRTH. 

A life ! We marvel at the thought 
As something 'twere from nothing brought, 
A germ caught from ethereal plan, 
Twirled round and made a spirit-man. 

How strange that we, our outer shell 
By sin made fit to people hell, 
Should deemed be the only state 
In which a God could life create. 

While eternal space is peopled o'er 
With spirits full of life and power, 
That travel as a ray of light; 
Not needing rest, they have no night. 

And yet the ego of the man 
Scans o'er the great eternal plan, 
And in his mightiness proclaims 
His wisdom compasses God's aims. 

To spirits God gives greater powers 
Than in this physic state of ours ; 
And God by Christ unfolds a plan 
Through grace to mould a spirit-man. 

Then marvel not, ye mouldering clay, 
Vain, boastful creatures of a day, 



70 What We Are and What We Will Be 

And claims with joy the promise giv'n 
That comes from God and points to heav'n. 

God spake — behold a peopled world — 
He speaks — believe — a life he'll mould; 
Through faith the quickening will come, 
New life is born — heaven its home. 

A. Phinney. 



IN THE SPIRIT 



First, Rev. 1 : 10 : "I was in the spirit on the Lord's 
day and heard behind me a great voice as of a trum- 
pet, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the 
last" ; ch. 4 : i : "After that I looked, and behold a 
door was open in heaven, and the first voice as of a 
trumpet, talking with me said, Come up hither and I 
will show thee things which must come hereafter, and 
immediately I was in the spirit. And when he had 
opened the fifth seal I saw under the throne the souls 
of them that were slain for the word of God, and white 
robes were given unto every one of them"; Rev. 21 : 
10: "He carried me away in the spirit to a great high 
mountain and showed me that great city, the Holy Je- 
rusalem." John's body lay on the Isle of Patmos while 
his spirit clothed with soul stood in the seventh sphere 
and saw just what he tells us he saw, even the multi- 
tudes around our Father's throne. Definition of the 
Holy Spirit in its triune form. Ray divine from our 
Father and Master. Second, angel hosts. Third, 
spirits of just ones made perfect, when the Father 
and Master so wills. Are they not all ministering 
spirits sent forth to do service to those who inherit 
eternal life? 



72 What We Are and What We Will Be 

We find in the Scriptures three terms used to de- 
scribe the different effects of our Father or the Holy 
Spirit upon our spirit. First, the spirit in us. Sec- 
ond, the spirit upon us. Third, being in the spirit. 
The spirit within us is when we feel a joyous sensa- 
tion pass through us, either in reading a spiritual arti- 
cle or hearing a spiritual man speak, or sing a spirit- 
ual song, or think a kind thought, or do a good act. 
Some of our brothers and sisters acknowledge it by 
shouting, Glory. This is the spirit in us. Second, 
spirit upon me; there is a joy passes through us 
much stronger than the first; in fact, we become 
dazed as to our earthly surroundings. We either hear 
a voice speaking to us, or see a picture, sometimes 
both. We are not a j5art of it, but just look at it, and 
we are filled with glory, understand it ; it is gen- 
erally relating to some future occurrence which is to 
come. This is called a vision. Third, being in the 
spirit is a separation, temporarily of our inward body 
or living soul from the outward body, as Ezekiel, Isa- 
iah, Paul and John, Dante, Milton, Mrs. Rebecca 
Springer, Swedenborg and many others. You see 
yourself drift through space, see others in the flesh, 
and spirits both naked and clothed upon, lost or saved, 
living souls. The land of darkness as well as the land 
of light, do feel and understand, yea, comprehend 
things of the past and the future, see angels and talk 
with them, and when they take you by the hand feel 



In the Spirit— What It Is 73 

them, see them, hear them and understand them, as 
well as all things wherever you are. I for one am seen 
and recognized by those in the flesh. They hear me, 
see me, understand what I say to them as I know what 
I am saying, and have done after I return to my body. 
I have no control of myself. The Master just sends 
me. In this state you are to a great extent the same 
individual you will be after your spiritual birth (by 
some called death), and know and understand all 
things much better and clearer than in the flesh. The 
spirit is our true ego, eternal, immortal. The soul 
is just the body of the spirit, and is accumulated by 
the food you feed your spirit, is composed of mole- 
cule, particles and atoms from the ethereal sphere 
above, and is not of this earth or the inner spheres of 
this earth. The land of darkness, Satan's central king- 
dom. Spirit, the eternal principle, soul, a principle 
that can be destroyed, therefore secondary and sub- 
ject thereto. (Parenthesis denote explanation of 
copyists or quotation of another, not the original 
writer.) This is exactly what Paul says, II Cor. 5: 
6, 8: 'Therefore we are always confident, knowing 
that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are ab- 
sent from the Lord: We are confident, I say, and 
willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be 
present with the Lord," but whether absent from the 
body or present in the body, we aim to be well pleas- 
ing unto him, Paul talks as though he had been ab- 



74 What We Are and What We Will Be 

sent from his body. What think you ? Again, II Cor. 
12: 24: "I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years 
ago. . . . Such a one was caught up to the third 
heaven. And I knew such a man how that he was 
caught up into paradise." He is speaking of when he 
was stoned and cast out of the city of Lystra for dead. 
This is synonomous and means the same as being in 
the spirit, was experienced by the prophets, by Jesus, 
the apostles John and Paul, by a number of the early 
fathers, by Dante, Milton and thousands of others. 
But many will say, This all ended when Jesus arose. 
But how about Paul and John? I say our heavenly 
Father is just the same Jehovah, unchangeable. Jesus 
is just the same Lord and Savior, Son of our dear 
heavenly Father by birthright, and will be with us 
unto the end of the world, and ever after to those who 
love him. The Holy Spirit, dear angels and spirits 
of dear ones made perfect, doing service to those 
that shall inherit salvation, and I would say to 
the materialist professor of religion, get closer 
to Jesus and work, and be more spiritual. Ma- 
terialism produces what? Skepticism; and skep- 
ticism infidelity. Be like Paul if you only lived as 
Paul, not for himself, but for Christ our dear Lord 
and heavenly Father and Holy Spirit. And Jesus 
says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth 
on me the works that I do shall be so also, and greater 
works than these shall he do because I go unto my 



In the Spirit — What It Is 75 

Father." Don't you think we had better believe him? 
Have we not drifted from our Father, Master and the 
Holy Spirit ? Yes, we have ; not them from us. 

How I know that I was in the spirit, or absent 
from the body: 

In my first experience, in 1869, 25th of August, 
although the doctor decided that I was dead, and I 
fully realized that I was absent from the body, saw 
the beautiful river, even advanced into it ankle deep, 
heard my wife's voice, saw her distinctly, and the 
beauties and glories of the other shore, yet I thought 
it was a vision. Others tried to convince me and 
nearly did that it was a beautiful dream ; but in my 
second experience, on August 25, 1899, I saw my 
true self, my living soul, that is my spirit as I believe 
there must have been, and was some soul left in my 
earthly shell or carnal body to keep the spark of life 
in it, as it is the soul that drives the blood through 
the veins. I know my spirit, the true ego, myself 
eternal, was absent from the carnal body, and I fully 
recognized myself, not only in the land of darkness, 
but when on that straight road to the land of light, 
even when I first saw that glorious light, but still 
more clearly when talking with the angels in the 
anteroom of that glorious portal ; then again when 
the angel took me by the hand and we drifted down 
to the beautiful street, and walked up it. And again, 
when I met my wife in front of that lovely and grand 



76 What We Are and What We Will Be 

mansion, enfolded her to my bosom, kissed her and 
felt her form, especially her shoulder blade in the 
palm of my right hand through those robes so fine, 
like silk or satin lawn. I looked at my raiment and 
saw the spots on it, and again when my Father said, 
"My son here with soiled raiments" ; but I was still 
more fully convinced when I, through grace, left my 
body and appeared to Charles C. Rush, in Dunellon, 
Florida, on Thanksgiving night, 1899. I not only saw 
him, and his surroundings, but talked to him and he 
saw me, heard me and knew me to be in the spirit. 
I have also appeared to others at different times and 
places as the Master has sent me. I have no control 
of myself, and as Paul said, I would rather be absent 
from the body than to be in it, as I am so much more 
beautiful, and have a capacity of seeing and under- 
standing things so much better and can walk and drift 
with such glorious speed, and see the glorious eternal 
things, and am filled with such a pure, divine love. 
O! it is just glorious, and I long to complete my du- 
ties here below and join that beautiful, eternal throng 
with dear re-born loves in that land of love; espe- 
cially to see and be with my Savior who loved and 
loves me, an unprofitable servant. 



In the Spirit— What It Is 77 

JESUS AND WORK. 

Come closer to Jesus and work; 

With pure, sweet love overflowing. 
And no, no, never a duty shirk, 

O! keep spiritually growing. 

Chorus — 

Come now, O ! come now, yes, just now, 
Come closer to Jesus and work. 

Then you can see angels untold; 
And your reborn loves behold ; 
Then mysteries of heaven unfold, 
Then glorify Jesus and work. 

Chorus — 

Come now, O! come now, yes, just now, 
And glorify Jesus and work. 



ANGELS 



As some claim that we become angels, others deny 
that angels have anything to do with us in the present 
age. Angels are sons by creation of our dear heavenly 
Father. They are spirits sent forth to do service to 
those that love him. Our Father is a spirit; so are 
the cherubims and seraphims. There are different 
grades of spirits and angels. An angel is just perfect 
in form and grace. Not one blemish. Fingers of the 
hand just taper to nearly a point. Eyes large, over- 
flowing with love. Hair hangs in ringlets over their 
lovely shoulders. Robes, oh, so white. Forms kingly. 
Their motions perfect. The spirit of the just one made 
perfect has the same features it had here below. 
There have been and are billions of faces, no two 
alike. There is always some little blemish, and when 
glorified' it is beautified. Yes, we will know our dear 
loved ones full and well, not only close by us, but a 
long way off in that land of love. We are never more 
than living souls, or spirits of just ones made per- 
fect. First, Michael, the great archangel, at the left 
hand of our Father, is the officer of execution. He 
has never varied from the duties our dear Father 



Angels— What They Are 79 

assigned him. He has ever and will be commander 
of the multitudes of hosts of angels, subject to the 
command of our dear Father and Savior. An angel 
of light on earth or in heaven represents him just as 
a soldier of the United States army represents the 
commander, and therefore is one of the Holy Spirit 
in its triune form. They appeared to Abraham, Jacob, 
Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel and Elijah, cared for and at- 
tended Jesus, Peter, Paul and John, Constantine, 
Dante, Milton and many of our dear departed ones. 
Yes, they care and attend upon you and me. That 
sweet, small voice which guides us to all truth is not 
what some call conscience, but an angel of light. Some 
of us, I fear, are attended by an angel of darkness 
as much or more than we are by an angel of light. 
This is the reason that is called conscience is often 
misleading. Is it not singular a good man that tries 
to da good has a good conscience, while an evil man 
has an evil conscience? Just pray to our heavenly 
Father and Master, and ask to be guided by the 
powers unseen, and you will improve. In fact, the 
angel of the Lord comes close to you. You hear him 
clearer and obey him more, and at the birth of your 
spirit he takes you by the hand and drifts to that land 
of love. There is not a house of worship on earth, 
where our dear Father and Master is worshiped, but 
what the angels congregate there, and go forth from 
there to their missions of mercy to us poor mortals 



80 What We Are and What We Will Be 

here below. There is not a saloon or dive on earth, 
that the angels of Satan do not gather and go forth 
on their missions of destruction. What we feel in 
our Father's house so pleasant and joyous is their 
presence. In fact, we never enter a place of worship 
but what they are there and to bless us, if we only 
call on Jesus, their chief commander. In fact I know 
this, as I have visited all denominations, Protestants, 
Catholics and the Synagogue during the last three 
years, and have seen them in nearly every place of wor- 
ship, mostly around the minister, rabbi or priest and 
choir. The lighter and brighter the house of worship 
is the more distinct and clear can they be seen. They 
often disappear when passing by a dark object or 
while passing over a dark space. John knew what 
he was talking about when he called them spirits of 
light and not of darkness. I know it would be more 
pleasant for our visitors from that glory land, if we 
would have all our churches white and bright inside, 
instead of dark colors. The house of our Father 
is indeed the Holy of Holies, and nothing but pure 
prayers, pure praise, pure thoughts and acts should 
enter there. I would do away with collections in 
the main body of the church. Just put the boxes as 
our fathers did it in the anteroom and let an officer 
of the church overlook the free offerings. We should 
not worship angels, only love them as the messengers 



Angels — What They Are 81 

of love of our dear Father and Master. Worship 
nothing but the Holy Trinity. 

ANGELS OF LIGHT. 

Angels of light are glorious and bright 
Sons of creation by our Father of light, 
Lovely they walk and drift with great speed and 

might, 
And fill you with glory ! So perfect their face, 
Large eyes overflowing with love and grace ; 
Their long hair hangs in long curls like lovely silk, 
O ! They are beautiful and perfectly built. 

Robes, lovely white, silk crepe like satin lawn, 

Their movements are majestic, their arms are strong, 

By their gentle and loving kindness you know 

That they to our great Commander, Jesus, go. 

They loved Abraham and Joseph, left Saul, 

Jesus our dear Savior they love more than all, 

O ! hear them, obey them when upon you they call. 

Waited on Peter, waited on John and Paul, 

They visit you; they visit me, they visit all, 

Especially those who on Jesus really call. 

Then call unto him, our King, and you shall have 

A dear lovely angel close by you to save, 

And gently tell you when you are wrong or right ; 

Some call it conscience, it's an angel of light. 

They gather in our churches, both great and small, 
From there go on their missions of love to all, 
Whenever you enter our dear Father's house, 
Just remember they are there, a perfect host. 
Love them ever you should, with a love so true ; 
Never worship, that to the Trinity is due. 
O ! hear them, obey them, they really love you ! 



82 What We Are and What We Will Be 

O! praise our Father for the comforters here, 
They are gathering us now for that last great day ; 
Then turn to Jesus our King while yet you may, 
Make sure of him, he will ever be true to you, 
And gather, you on his right in that review, 
If you would live with them and our Savior dear, 
Hear and obey, their sweet, still, small voice so clear. 



THE LAND OF DARKNESS 



That it exists I know. That it is in this world in 
different spheres of intensity as you advance into it 
I am assured. I have not been so far in that land 
as Dante, and others, but as far as I was sent can 
say that he and others speak the truth regarding it. 
As I do not remember when in the spirit the route 
I went over until I was there, but have a distinct 
knowledge of the route I came over when I came 
into that straight, narrow, when compared with its 
length, and beautiful highway, that leads from this 
world of ours to our dear Master's kingdom. In 
entering that land of darkness you are first impressed 
with the light, if light it is, a light overshadowed with 
darkness, about as light as a quarter moon overshad- 
owed with a cloud. But for all that you can see 
quite a distance and see things distinctly. Also the 
barrenness of it, not even a blade of grass, soil a 
dingy brownish hue, exceedingly rocky. But most of 
all, what impresses you is a fear, indescribable and 
intense, a feeling that you are lost, and that some- 
thing is hunting you to injure you. Job says, "Before 
I go whence I shall not return, to the land of dark- 



84 What We Are and What We Will Be 

ness and shadow of death, a land of darkness as dark- 
ness itself and shadow of darkness without any order, 
and where the light is darkness, outer darkness." Je- 
sus says they shall be cast into outer darkness. The 
paths, I may call them, look like roads, but narrow 
and bending continually, with occasionally a hovel, 
wretched in appearance. Some with pickets set close 
around them, extending above the eaves of the hovels. 
No windows, doors barred. You even fear to ap- 
proach them. 

I have been sent to that land twice. The last time 
went farther into it, consequently saw more of it. 
Would say that it is an immense land of sorrow, fear 
and destruction. You soon begin to see lost spirits 
and demons. The demons hunt you in your defense- 
less state, and it seems to give them pleasure, if such 
a thing exists in that terrible land. They are armed, 
while you are not, with javelins, spears and knives. 
Your appeals of mercy are never regarded. At least, 
so I observed it in their treatment of others. I ran 
into a hovel to hide. It has three rooms. First, 
twelve by sixteen ; nothing in it ; it looked as though 
it had just been vacated. Two rooms to the right, 
about eight by ten, had a bench in it. Third room 
had nothing in it, and all the hovel looks very dirty 
and filthy. As I started from the door of the third 
room, intending to leave the hovel, having found no 
place to hide, a creature came in at the only opening, 



Land of Darkness — What It Is 85 

preventing my escape. It had the form of a man, 
but oh, how hideous. The face was blotched and de- 
montic, the eyes piercing and fierce. Was clothed in 
a dark, grayish raiment, armed with a weapon like 
a javelin, about six feet long. He started towards 
me in the first and second position of charge bayonet. 
I just stood trembling with fear and terror, when 
something unseen by me placed within my left hand 
what seemed to be a guard. At this the fear left me. 
I became cool and calm and awaited his assault. He 
thrust towards me. I parried in quarte and then I be- 
held that I had a beautiful sword of fire in my left 
hand. I thrust in tierce and pierced his left side. He 
fell. He was about five feet,^ix, high, broad and mas- 
sive, of a grayish color, slimy and disgusting. After 
examining him I stepped over his body and left the 
hovel. 

x\fter passing farther into that dreadful land, it 
becomes more barren, if such can be, more rugged, 
higher mountains, narrow valleys, where you see the 
poor, lost spirits clad scantily in dark grayish robes, 
faces like convicts under the lash, forms like skele- 
tons' bodies, but they have an ashy color, they lack 
soul, singly or in groups of ten to twenty. Every 
spirit and creature is against every other, and the 
more cruel they can be and act towards each other 
and all comers — in fact, cruelty, deception, hatred, 
malice and murder, if such could be, seem to be the 



86 What We Are and What We Will Be 

prevailing disposition of all, and oh, how depraved. 
High and rugged walls of rocks, narrow paths, shelv- 
ing cliffs, and caves in the rocks their homes, if they 
have any, where they lay and moan in anguish and 
despair, regretting their past lives on this earth, 
knowing now what they have lost, attacking each 
other and injuring others continually. Oh, how they 
court death, which will never come. I saw no water 
in that desert of deserts, and their cries, screams and 
oaths, oh, how terrible. This is the land and home 
that Satan and his powers would have you spend an 
eternity in. Will you go there, dear brother, sister, 
child ? Oh, pray, don't go ; and as heat increases as 
you descend into the bowels of the earth, so do I be- 
lieve suffering, anguish and horrors are increased as 
you enter farther into that woeful land. 

THE HOME OF THE LOST. 

There is a land of dreary, dreary darkness. 

Without sunshine of day or blackness of night ; 

Overhanging with clouds that infuses a shudder, 
And bedims those things so real in our sight. 

Barren desert of all deserts, so woeful and dreary, 
High rocks, rugged chasms, so deep and so bold. 

Narrow paths and high mountains that make us 
grow weary, 
Caves, cliffs, homes of spirits, who lost their souls. 

They see themselves like all spirits do, 
Each other they dread, and in all things they doubt; 
Their robes are all stained when brought into view; 
And like skeletons in fear they wander about. 



Land of Darkness — What It Is 87 

Here dwell all sad spirits shut out from the light, 
They scramble in fear with terror untold; 

From dark demons, who hunt them, pursue with their 
might, 
The same that on earth had destroyed their souls. 

No dear one to cheer them nor their burden to bear, 

So dirty, so filthy, and dreary to see, 
A hovel on earth is a mansion to this ; 

Would you have such a home for you and for me? 

There is no place to hide, there's none to protect, 

Why live in sin and shame so long; 
When Jesus would save us if now we accept, 

And put in our mouth the heavenly song? 

Escape this wretched misery, the life of real despair, 
And come to Jesus who alone can set you free ; 

He is our only refuge, the crown is in his hands, 
And the angels wait to welcome you and me. 



LAND OF LOVE 



OUR HOMES AND OUR DEAR ONES. 

Job says, "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and 
after my body is destroyed, that without the flesh 
shall I see God. I shall see him for myself and not 
for another. Mine eyes shall behold him." He knew 
that his Redeemer lived. Do you ? He knew that 
he would live in the presence of our dear heavenly 
Father. Do you? Grand old man of ancient days. 
But remember, he saw affliction. So must you. He 
bore it sublimely. So should you. Moses and Elijah 
went to that land and returned to this earth and stood 
by Jesus on the mount, were seen, known and heard 
to talk by John, Peter and James — three witnesses. 
Jesus was showing in his divine way just what I in 
my weak way have been trying to show you. What 
makes the citizens of that land of glory, our Master's 
kingdom? Living souls! just such bodies are in our 
earthly tabernacles. Aaron was gathered to his peo- 
ple, so was Moses. Glorious must have been the de- 
parture of that great high priest on Mt. Horan, as 
he closed his eyes on Moses his brother, Eleazar, his 
son, and opened them to meet and greet those dear 



Land of Love — What It Is 89 

ones gone on before, 'his people in that land of our 
Father, of which the land of Canaan was the type. 

Again, Moses on Pizgah, as Aaron, was gathered 
to his people, so was he just on the verge of the land 
of promise. He enters Paradise, next he is seen 
standing on Mt. Tabor with Elisha and Jesus, Lord 
of lords, but a living soul or spirit of a just one made 
perfect. 

David said in mourning for Absalom, "I shall go 
unto him." He knew his son lived and that he would 
live and meet him in heaven. Do you? Isaiah tells 
you of that land in the sixth chapter and nineteenth 
verse. After giving us a description of the bright 
light and glory, also that no mourning shall be there, 
then so that you cannot be mistaken says, the people 
shall be all righteous. They shall inherit the land 
forever. Again, in the thirtieth chapter, their eyes 
shall see the king in his glory; also that we will all 
understand each other, our language shall be the 
same. Look upon Zion, the city of our salvation, a 
tabernacle that shall never be removed, a place of 
broad rivers and trees, a far-stretched land. A place 
where there is no sickness. The people that dwell 
therein shall be forgiven their iniquity, and the Lord 
shall be our King. He will save us. Sixty-fifth chap- 
ter, "For behold I create a new heaven and a new 
earth. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, 
and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock. The 



90 What We Are and What We Will Be 

wolf and the lion shall lie with the kid and the lamb. 
The leopard shall lie down with the kid. The calf, 
the young lion and the fatling together and a little 
child shall lead them." Ezek. 37: "And I shall put 
my spirit in you and ye shall live, I will place you in 
your own land, and ye shall know that I am the Lord, 
when I open your graves, oh, my people, and brought 
you out of your graves." This occurred when Jesus 
arose, and many spirits of the ancients were seen, and 
Pilate says, in his letter to Tiberius Caesar, "that I 
myself saw many." And they shall dwell in the land 
forever. I shall be their God and they shall be my 
people. Again, when Ezekiel was in the spirit, he 
gives us a description of one of the rivers in that 
land. "By the river and upon the banks thereof, on 
this side and on that side, shall grow all the trees 
for meat whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the 
fruit be consumed, ever growing, always abundant." 
Joel, second chapter: "I will show wonders in the 
heavens above, and whosoever calleth on the name 
of the Lord shall be saved." 

Now salvation is not all ; it is only a ticket through 
the portal. The thief from the cross passed that por- 
tal, so may you; but as by fire. If you leave off be- 
coming a follower of the Master until just passing 
over, you are but a naked spirit in that land of 
love, no soul to speak of, no body, only a tramp in a 
land of glory, and it will take you ages to accomplish 



Land of Love — What It Is 91 

what you could if you only would do your duty while 
here below, and do His will as near as you can. All 
sin shall be forgiven unto man except sin against 
the Holy Ghost. The sweet, small voice. Millions 
that have been like the thief on the cross. He only 
asked and was saved. 

Most of our human family, if never before, just 
in passing out cry, "Jesus, De merciful to me a sinner/' 
I care not what crime he had committed, he or she 
is saved; but oh, such poor, sick, almost naked spirits. 
I do not recommend calling at the last moment, but 
it is much better than to go to the land of darkness, 
although it is cowardly and risky, for who knows 
that an opportunity will be given to call. So, dear 
one, call while you can; and the more you serve 
our Master here, the better will be your condition in 
that land, and then go sweeping through the portal 
attended by the angels, and greeted in love by the 
dear ones, a spirit of a just one made perfect. 

John the Baptist came preaching, The kingdom of 
heaven is at hand; Jesus that, The kingdom of God 
is nigh unto you. Jesus again says, "It is indeed 
nigh unto you." Yes, it is indeed; just close by, en- 
folding this gross world of ours so close that Stephen 
saw our Master on the right hand of our heavenly 
Father. Stonewall Jackson saw it when he said, "Let 
us cross the river and rest in the shade of the trees." 
So close that our dear ones in passing out see it. 



92 What We Are and What We Will Be 

Paul tells us that he was in the third heaven and 
paradise. John was in the seventh heaven or sphere 
and saw the Holy City and gives us a description of 
it. Revelation, 21st chapter, also describes the river. 
Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many man- 
sions. If it were not so I would have told you. I go 
to prepare a place for you; and if I go I will come 
again and receive you to myself, that where I am, 
there ye may be, also." Paul tells us in the twelfth 
chapter of Hebrews, 22, 23 : "But ye are come into 
mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the 
heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable host of 
angels, to the general assembly and church of the 
firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the 
Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made per- 
fect." This is what I am trying to convince you of. 
I can use no language as forcible as his. Oh, do be- 
lieve him, and in Jesus the mediator of the new cov- 
enant. Paul tells us again that if the earthly house 
of our tabernacle be dissolved we have a building of 
God, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 
Jesus as the Son of our dear heavenly Father by 
birthright, and Paul our apostle, knew. Dante, 
through grace, saw some of the beauties of that land ; 
so did Milton, Swedenborg, Miss Rebecca Springer 
and thousands of others. It is, as Isaiah says, a far- 
stretched land with rivers wide and long. Oh, the 
sweet purity of pure love in that blessed land of love — 



Land of Love — What It Is 93 

home. An immense land. This world is as but a grain 
of sand on the seashore compared to it. Oh, the sweet 
purity of pure love in that blessed land. All space is 
full of life. There is no vacuum in the universe. 

Yes, the wonders of heaven have been shown ; but 
the world at large will not believe it any more than 
the ancients did the prophets, nor the Jews Jesus. 
Only a few, when compared to the great mass of the 
people ; but if we can only help the few and be the 
means through grace of saving a few more from that 
land of darkness to the land of light, and higher sta- 
tions in that life, we are fully repaid, not here, but 
in eternity. 

When you consider the billions of living souls that 
have gone over, and remember that no two objects 
of the same nature can occupy the same space at the 
same time, you can form some idea of the immensity 
of that land. By what I have read of other witnesses 
that have been to that land of love, and my own ex- 
periences, I should say that each nationality has its 
own country. I know that each family has its own 
circle. Our fathers will be our fathers, our dear 
mothers our own mothers, our dear ones, husbands 
and wives, our own, our children our very own fam- 
ily circles, eternal in the heavens, with such pure 
love more intensified and glorified. There are many 
cities, but Jerusalem is the capital. Many towns and 
communities. Each one is situated in just the con- 



94 What We Are and What We Will Be 

dition that best suits his taste for happiness and serv- 
ice to our King, all things being equal. 

John tells us that Jerusalem is fifteen hundred miles 
wide, broad and high. I know it is true by what I 
have seen myself. Mansions so high that you could 
not see the tops, and in the spirit you see with your 
spiritual eyes much farther and clearer than you can 
with a telescope here on earth; and don't you know 
that an angel or a spirit of a just one made perfect, 
can lay, rest or float and drift at will through space? 
Height, depth, distance is nothing to them. Their 
flight is equal to the speed of light, and it is just as 
easy for them or you when in the spirit to raise and 
enter a balcony fifteen hundred miles high or drift 
down fifteen hundred miles ! Yea, much easier than 
when you in the flesh have to step up one or two steps 
to enter an earthly house. . Some mansions are im- 
mense, away beyond what we can conceive from a 
worldly point of view. All things are equal. Man- 
sions four hundred feet broad and four hundred feet 
high are very common, each one built of some one 
precious gem, while many are much larger. Others 
are like immense suburban residences, only larger and 
more beautiful, surrounded with beautiful groves, 
walks, fountains and flowers, all distinctly arranged 
with various styles of architecture, built of different 
gems, therefore different colors. Looking along the 
fronts of the larger mansions you can see a halo of 



Land of Love — What It Is 95 

all colors of the rainbow, only ten thousand times 
more beautiful. I noticed there were no windows 
nor doors where I was, just golden and bronze col- 
ored damasks in various colored portieres, in many in- 
stances thrown back like curtains in the windows of 
our best houses here below. Our dear ones gone on 
before that we have not already met meet us here. 
Trees in that land are of different colors and some 
bear different kinds of fruit, many of the kinds not 
known here. All are perfect in shape and of differ- 
ent shades and colors, not one leaf extending beyond 
another, no dead leaves nor twigs, grass like plush 
of the brightest green, flowers, oh, so many; some 
like we have here on earth, and thousands of others 
more beautiful. Shrubbery of all kinds, most beau- 
tiful. I noticed that the rose there had no thorns, 
and so many different varieties. Fountains and lovely 
walks everywhere. Streets and roads broad and beau- 
tiful ; trees on the side and center ; bridges . of pure 
gold, lovely to behold. Angels, spirits of just ones 
made perfect, all moving here and there, greeting 
each other in love continually, even strangers as we 
call them here, none there; all know and we are 
known. 

I should say the occupations of that land are nu- 
merous, but mostly along the line as our Savior did 
while on earth, administering to each other in love 
to their advancement; also to assist and educate and 



96 What We Are and What We Will Be 

bring up to the standard of our family circle the weak 
ones of our kin, the black sheep of the flock who had 
called upon the Lord, so that which gives us great 
trouble and sorrow here brings us great joy in that 
other land, to which I hope and pray all the readers 
of this volume will attain. There are also woods 
and plains, lakes and rivers, bowers of rest and coun- 
try homes, just elegant in arrangement. 

Oh, that land of love, how I long for it while I 
write of it; mountains with gentle slopes, hills and 
valleys similar to this world of ours; but grander 
and more beautiful, lovely, ever-blooming; the rivers 
are clear like molten silver, calm and oh, how lovely 
to bathe in. Flowers even in the water, and you have 
no fear in the water as you have here. Just as much 
at home in it, and more so, than you are in the air on 
earth on a pretty spring morning. I saw horses in 
that land and they were magnificent in form and mo- 
tion. Others have seen different kinds of animals 
there. In fact, we are surrounded with what pleases 
us most all through the loving care of our dear Lord 
and King, Christ Jesus, our Adoration. You love 
Him here, but you will adore Him there. Well did 
Isaiah say, "The Lord is the light thereof." Light a 
golden azure, clear and glorious. No night, just beau- 
tiful dimming of the glory light enters everywhere ; 
just as light in a hallway or apartment as in the open 
air; just soft, gentle, loving illumination. No light 



Land of Love — What It Is 97 

like it on earth, nor even to compare with it. Air, a 
balmy fragrance, pervades everywhere laden with the 
odor of ever-blooming flowers ; so gentle, no storms 
nor winds of force, just a gentle movement so lovely 
Few have been to the same part of this immense land 
of love. Xo two that I have heard of, but at the same 
time all agree to the general facts. The mansions are 
furnished beautifully, far beyond anything on earth, 
just as the occupant desires. Oh, come, pray come, 
and be at home with the dear ones and our Lord. 
May the Holy Spirit lead you there. 

UP THERE AT HOME. 

Whene'er our earthly body 

A carnal veil of clay 
Is gently, kindly, sadly, 

Laid out in death's array, 
We shall see a bright, lovely, 

Glorious, golden day 
Upon our glad arrival 

So safe up there alway. 

Then shall we behold thee, 

Beautiful angels bright, 
Who wait to welcome us in 

Their beauty and their might 
At the pearl gate so brilliant, 

Glad sight and precious boon, 
So gently, and so lovingly, 

Just up there at our home. 

Then behold ourselves, 

In lovely robes of white, 
Beautiful like silk crepe, 

Or lovely satin bright, 



98 What W e Are and What We Will Be 

Woven by our spirits 

In actions of this life, 
Through power of our own 

King's love; up there at home. 

Then shall we be welcomed 

At homq at last through grace, 
By those darling ones whom 

We have loved, our mates, 
And feel once more their loving, 

Sweet arms around us thrown 
In perfect love's embrace 

So pure and fast at home. 

Then shall we greet those loving ones, 

Forever more so dear, 
Father, mother, sister brother, 

Our own again reborn, 
Children, friends and loving angels, 

Forever to us near, 
Husbands, wives and spiritual loves 

Of earthly life at home. 

Then shall we adore our Savior, 

Our ever loving King, 
Us and our precious treasures, 

Ever will he enthrone, 
And to our happy spirits, 

Our souls will ever cling, 
Our celestial bodies beauties, 

And safely home, our home. 

Then we find sweet love's employ 

In love's lovely retreat, 
In our dear Father's house, 

Never again to roam 
There we will view our mansions 

Glorious, grand and sweet. 
And kneel in love at Jesus' feet, 

Forever more at home. 



Land of Love — What It Is 99 

When John the Baptist came preaching the king- 
dom of heaven is at hand, Matt. 3 : 2, Jesus the king- 
dom of God is come nigh unto you. Again, it has 
indeed come nigh unto you, it just encircles this gross 
world of ours. Paul heard Jesus plainly when he 
called him on the road to Damascus. Stephen saw 
him at the right hand of our Father. It is not right 
for us to say that things do not exist that w T e do not 
see with these carnal eyes of ours. First, you can 
count the spokes of a bicycle when standing still, but 
as it increases the speed you lose sight of the spokes. 
What has occurred? The vibration of motion has 
been increased beyond the capacity of your eye in its 
natural state. An angel or spirit or the spirit of a 
just one made perfect, their bodies vibrate so fast 
that we cannot see them unless the optical nerve and 
pupil of our eye is expanded so as to take in the speed 
of the vibrations of their body. That is what oc- 
curs when a vision is beheld. It is often called the 
removal of the earthly veil. It often occurs when 
our dear ones are passing over, as the experiences 
and evidences of said fact in this book will prove. 
Yes, they often come from the ethereal sphere and 
space above us into this gross sphere to warn, guide 
and protect us groping mortals here below. Great 
is the love of our mother, and do you think the moth- 
er's love loses any of its strength or purity? No, it 
increases in that land of love. So does all pure love. 



100 What We Are and What We Will Be 

There have been men and women in all ages and 
times that have and do see them at times. Those of 
the upper or outer spheres understand what Jesus 
taught and know a great deal more than we do. Many 
ask the question, How can they be happy when they 
see our troubles here below? Why do you not feel 
that same sorrow that a little child feels when it 
breaks its doll? Because you know it is a lesson to 
the little one, and if she is wise will be benefited by 
it. They in the eternal world look towards our eternal 
welfare, and there is nothing like trials and tribula- 
tions to bring us nearer to our Father and Master, 
and increase the growth of soul on our spirits. 
Again, you would ask, Don't they miss the lost ones 
or the weak ones of the family? Joel, second, says 
that "whosoever calleth on the name of the Lord shall 
be saved." Again, Acts 2: 21, Peter in that great ser- 
mon of sermons, when three thousand souls were be- 
gotten by the spirit, says the same : "Whosoever call- 
eth on the name of the Lord shall be saved." So say 
I. The thief on the cross only asked and was saved. 
Wherever the name of Christ has been preached, 
very few pass out without saying, Jesus be merciful 
to me. He or she is saved there and then; but sal- 
vation is not all of it, it is just a ticket through the 
gates of Paradise. I do not recommend calling at the 
last moment, as some are unable to call, therefore, 
lost. And at best you are only a naked spirit or tramp 



Land of Love — What It Is 101 

in a land of glory, just a spirit, saved as by fire. Oh, 
so little soul, and it takes them a long time to bring 
them up to that state of joy, the family circle in our 
Master's kingdom, and I doubt if they ever reach the 
altitude of glory they would have done, had they done 
their duty here below. But it is the duty of those in 
higher spheres to educate and elevate the weaker 
spirits. Just as Jesus did here on earth, so will we do 
there, and glorious is the labor of love. 

Yes, an inorganic or spiritual world could pass 
through this world of ours and we be none the wiser 
unless we were a clairaudiant or clairvoyant. The two 
worlds are growing more close, that is, those that 
love the Lord, and closer shall they come until Jesus 
appears in all his glory. Many saw them at the resur- 
rection of the Lord. Even Pilate saw many. A spirit 
of our Master can descend even to hell, ascend as high 
as he has soul to float himself, and a lost spirit cannot 
drift above his sphere, as he has no soul. Soul gives 
them the buoyancy. I know our dear ones appear to 
us. I have seen my first wife a number of times, and 
on the 25th of August, 1906, my mother appeared at 
my bedside about two a.m., and kissed me three times, 
and I kissed her in return. My first wife has often 
talked to me and I to her. Yes, our dear ones are 
near and love us just the same. They are gone on 
before us. We are not lost to them, although we 
don't all see them. They will meet us if we love the 



102 What We Are and What We Will Be 

Lord, greet us, and escort us to our homes above 
with the angel host, and we will live with them in our 
Father's kingdom. Our fathers, our own fathers, 
our mothers, our own dear mothers, our brothers and 
sisters, our own, dear partners and lovers of life, our 
own, our children, our very own, our dear ones are 
happy, with faces and forms just the same, only beau- 
tified. They enjoy their growth in knowledge, they 
enjoy their beautiful homes, they enjoy their duties 
there, and each other's society, as there is not de- 
ception, as all see and are known. They enjoy their 
visits to us mortals here below ; in fact, it is all joy, 
glory, peace and love, oh, love untold, walking, drift- 
ing through that land of glory with their dear ones, 
and joyously wait for us here below to come and join 
the glorified multitudes, all through Jesus our King, 
who is Jehovah ever. Glory to his name ! and our dear 
Father who loves us. Glory in the highest ! 

OUR HOME. 

When we approach the glorious, 

And radiant Gate of Pearl bright; 
We are welcomed at the portal, 

By our dear Father's sons of light, 
Who kindly and gently greet us. 

O ! so sweet in their loving might. 
Divine forms, as men, but perfect, 

So sublime in robes of pure white ; 
Bright eyes overflowing with love, 

They win us by their glance at sight; 
We are filled with love-glory, 

O ! the joyous child-like delight. 



Land of Love — What It Is 103 

They gently take our hands in theirs, 

So kind and lovingly in love ; 
And lead us into a glorious, 

Grand city of our Father above. 
Beautiful is the lovely view, 

So far can you see in that land ; 
On the left a park glorious, 

Trees, flowers, walks and verdure grand; 
All perfect in form, rose no thorns, 

Like plush or bright green is the grass. 
Are kind and lovingly greeted, 

By all living souls as we pass. 

The lovely streets are straight and broad, 

Beautiful arched bridges of gold, 
Trees rainbow green on every side, 

Twelve kinds of fruit do they hold, 
Procession of spirits made perfect, 

Move forward so grand to behold. 
O ! perfect their forms and motions ; 

As more glory spheres they unfold, 
With sweet, divine, lovely music, 

This heavenly song they all sing, 
Of their salvation by Jesus, 

Our Lord, Adoration and King. 

The light is a clear, golden azure, 

Lovely, glorious and sublime; 
The atmosphere rich with fragrance, 

Happifies you beautiful clime. 
All things are divine and equal, 

O! such magnificence you see; 
All things at home are perfect, 

In beauty, glory and purity, 
A land of immense infinity, 

With the lovely rivers wide and long 
O ! the sweet purity of pure love, 

In that blessed land of love — Home. 



104 What We Are and What We Will Be 

On the right, beautiful, glorious, 

Lovely mansions broad and high, — 
White columns and long balconies ; 

Divine architecture that vie, — 
Each one built of a precious gem, 

Sublime and beautiful to view; 
With individual colors radiant, 

Lovely pure white steps and arches, too, 
Viewing along the fronts so brilliant, 

You see royal bright colors blend; 
The rainbow at ten million times 

Its beautiful brightness is dim. 

In the far distance are mansions, 

Beautiful homes, numbers untold ; 
Like suburban residences near, 

Our royal large cities of old. 
Surrounded by beautiful groves ; 

Lovely walks, fountains and flowers, 
Where dwelleth those dear, sweetest loves. 

Darlings just gone on before ours; 
They come joyfully greeting us, 

And we them to our arms enfold ; 
Their forms so lovely and perfect, 

The same beautiful faces behold. 

We enter our lovely mansion, 

And behold a grand winding stair ; 
Is columns and golden damask, 

Suspending, lovely, everywhere ; 
Is royally furnished complete. 

O ! beautiful, pure and clean there. 
Joyously greet and are welcome, 

Lovingly by all home reborn ; 
It is the land of our Father, 

And we never again will moan. 
It is pure divine love-glory; 

Forever with Tesus at Home. 



WHY DREAD TRANSITION? 



Should we not prepare for transition, and why 
should so many call spiritual things or beings un- 
canny and fear them? When children we longed to 
be larger and older boys and girls, then we longed 
for manhood and, womanhood. Then to be parents, 
then grandparents, and obtain all the good things of 
life. But when we come to transition, most of the 
human family halt. The only certain thing that is cer- 
tain to occur in our lives is the least thought of, and 
feared, and if we have only accepted Jesus, lived the 
life we should live, it should be the happiest moment 
of our lives. Let us all up and be preparing for that 
great event certain to come to each one of us. We 
fear not each other now, we fear not those in the 
flesh, why those in the spirit world? We are in the 
flesh now, clothed with flesh, then spirits clothed with 
soul, and if we only call on Jesus just inside of that 
land of love, a tramp. If we have lived on earth as 
we should, a living soul clothed fully with soul and 
beautiful as angels. Oh, I pray you to not fear the 
powers of our Lord, be it the sweet small voice, or 
angel, or spirits of just ones made perfect. Court 



106 What We Are and What We Will Be 

them by obedience to the impressions of the same. 
How many in all ages from Adam to the present day 
have seen angels, their dear ones and greeted them 
with joy. So may you. The greatest reason I believe 
is ignorance of the Bible, the teachings of Jesus and 
Paul, and neglect of the same and nonacceptance of 
witness of others here on earth who are merely wit- 
nesses of the same spiritual world, to which we are 
all going, a land of darkness or a land of light and 
love. 

Which will it be for you, my dear reader? One or 
the other it must be. Who is your master, Jesus or 
Satan? Which are you going to live with in eternity? 
Let me assure you that if you will love the Lord you 
will greet that child with love, that sister, that brother, 
that dear wife or husband, father and mother, all 
your own in love more intense and glorious, joy un- 
told, more lovely than when on earth, and perchance 
they may greet you here on earth just as you depart 
with the Master's will. Have not many in this volume 
given you evidence of their seeing their dear ones? 
Many have been in that land of love and gave you 
good descriptions of it. Some passed over and some 
living on the earth to-day that have seen it, walked 
and drifted in it, saw, beheld and known just wit- 
nesses of the dear old Bible, both Old and New. 
Will you not believe them? Most of them have been 
to different locations, but all agree in general princi- 



Why Dread Transition? 107 

pies, and after having been there all intense workers 
for our Master, free of charge to all men, aiming to 
turn all the spirits in the flesh to that land of glory, 
our Master's kingdom, knowing they will receive 
their reward upon their arrival home again at last. 
Come, oh, I pray you, come, and be happy in eternity. 
Fear not that which is good, but court it. Judge ye 
the spirits. Any that acknowledge Christ Jesus as 
King, love them, obey them, and it will be well for 
you, and our heavenly Father as their Father. Avoid 
all that do not ackuowledge Jesus as King. Court an- 
gels or spirits of just ones made perfect. Love them 
but do not worship them. They do not desire it. Wor- 
ship only the Holy Spirit, Jesus and our Father, 
blessed Trinity. 

There is no pain in transition. You never fell 
alseep so gently and easily. In fact, going to sleep and 
transition are very similar, only the latter is more 
joyous and lovely. You close your eyes and open 
them, just pass out of your carnal shell as the angel 
takes your hand, and if strong in the Lord stand filled 
with love and glory and wonder why your dear friends 
are weeping. What affects you most is to see them 
weep, and they will not listen to you nor see you 
when you try to comfort them. You see earthly things 
as well as spiritual things all around you. Angels 
and dear friends that have come to welcome you and 
all your earthly friends near, also at a distance. The 



108 What We Are and What We Will Be 

spiritual eye is stronger than any telescope on earth. 
You can pass through buildings like you do through 
the air while in the flesh. Then the angel takes your 
hand and the other loved ones made perfect gather 
around you and you drift to that lovely land so close 
by, joyously singing as you go, seeing and being seen, 
loving and being loved with a love as pure, blessed 
love, blessed land, so close that if you are a clair- 
voyant you could see them, and that land or a clairau- 
diant and hear the glorious music. It is indeed nigh 
unto us as Jesus said. It enfolds this little world of 
ours. It is all space. There- is no vacuum. Our dear 
Father created nothing for nothing. All have their 
place and plane in some of the spheres in glory, as 
we have loved the blessed Trinity and done our duty 
to our fellow-men. Oh, believe me, you need have 
no fear if you only love our Lord. Jesus said, "Who- 
soever liveth and believeth in me shall never die," 
and he always told the truth. It is birth, not death you 
see, just an occurrence in a continued life and like 
the early fathers and those that have loved Him in- 
tensely even in the present age, long for transition. 
This is why the early fathers and martyrs rushed 
to Rome fearful that they would not be martyred or 
counted worthy to pass over as witnesses for Jesus, 
and was what conquered Rome and the greater part 
of Europe. Jesus said you shall not see nor taste 



Why Dread Transition? 109 

death. Oh, come to him who giveth life, life eternal 
in love. 

SPIRIT BIRTH. 

Upon a lovely bed, 

A Christian mother lay. 
Passing gently on from 

This earthly life away. 
Her lovely face brightens 

With glory, love and joy, 
As she sees on the right 

Her reborn little Roy — 
Passed lately on from earth 

Her dearest baby boy. 

On the left she sees her 

Mother and husband dear, 
Come to meet and welcome 

Her re-born spirit here; 
They greet her most lovingly, 

And kindly bid her come 
To our Master's kingdom, 

Land where they never moan ; 
She nods sweet and whispers, 
"I am now going — home !" 

Near an angel of grand, 

Lovely form and face stands, 
Who entreats her now come forth — 

Jesus our Lord commands ! 
And lo ! forth she gently comes, 

As He takes her pure hand — 
A lovely, living soul, 

The same as made in man. 
Glory, Father, glory, Son, 

Her victory is won ! 

Her face, oh, how radiant! 
But just the same, I know, 



110 What We Are and What We Will Be 

Eyes with pure love glowing, 

Her form is perfect now, 
Robes so white and brilliant, 

Like crepe or satin lawn; 
Her motions free and easy, 

So queenly she has grown — 
Oh, lovely, yes, all lovely, 

Are our dear loves reborn. 

They around her gather, 

Greeting, loving and sweet, 
She responds to their welcome, 

Wonderful joy so great. 
Each side of her lovingly, 

They gently take their stand — 
The holy angel then 

Leads gladly in the van, 
And home, home, joyfully drift, 

To our Lord's glory land! 



WITNESSES OF THE TRUTH 



I will arrange the witnesses as to the identity, in- 
dividuality, and immortality of the spirit of man, and 
to those spheres to which he goes after he has lived 
his allotted time on this earth of ours, according to 
the intensity of the spiritual powers upon them. First, 
one who wishes to give here evidence as many others 
have, and was not allowed to by the powers of this 
earth. Second, those who have by vision or the spirit 
upon them granted by our dear heavenly Father and 
Master the privilege of seeing their dear ones as 
they pass over, and those that have seen their dear 
ones and others when in perfect health. Third, those 
who by grace have experienced being in the spirit, or a 
separation of the inward body, the living soul and from 
the outward body, the carnal shell we wore here on 
earth. 

Aberdeen, Miss., August 29, 1906. 

On the 25th of April, 1882, in Aberdeen, Miss., 
Mrs. Geo. W. Bashaw, in passing over was in a 
trance state twenty minutes. When she revived she 
said, "I wish you would let me tell you what I saw. 
I have had an insight into heaven. Let me tell you. 
You will be sorry some day that you will not let me 
tell you." The doctor had given orders prohibit- 



112 What We Are and What We Will Be 

ing her from talking, and she passed out with a smile 

on her face. 

Witnesses to same: 
Mrs. J. V. Mims, 
A. W. Peek, 
Geo. W. Bashaw. 

In the desire to give evidence of what she had seen 
while absent from her body, yes, even as she states, 
she has no doubt seen the beauties and glories of that 
heavenly land, but some of our doctors of all ages 
have closed the lips of those that would have been 
bright and glorious witnesses of the identity, individ- 
uality and immortality of the spirit, by orders and by 
drugs. Oh, what a crime against humanity. Here 
a mother and wife wishes and is not allowed to, even 
pleading, "let me tell you. You will be sorry some 
clay that you will not let me tell you." No, we will 
never know what she saw until we meet her in that 
land of love. How many thousands have been si- 
lenced by this world's powers, and not only in this 
way have many been prevented from giving their 
evidence, but thousands have been buried while in 
a trance state, as the evidence of undertakers that 
have charge of removing corpses from old burying 
grounds show. They state that it is not uncom- 
mon to find a corpse turned over, and evidences of 
struggles to release themselves from a living tomb. 
No person should be buried or embalmed until mor- 
tification sets in. Again, how many turn to their 



Witnesses of the Truth 113 

dear ones they have known all their lives and knew 
them to be perfectly truthful and say, "Oh, you have 
lost your mind/' or say it to a second person in the 
room, even so they hear it. Cruelty of cruelties. How 
can you do it? Why not give the same credence to 
the witnesses of heaven that you do to the witnesses 
of earth? You say you do. I say you don't, and will 
prove it. In all of our cities, towns or even in the 
country, there are some poor, weak men or women 
that. are given to drink or drugs. Two persons are 
walking together and they hear a shot or scream. 
They run to the place, and there they find a poor man 
that you nor no one else that knows him would take 
his word for ten cents, just passing out. He says 
clearly and distinctly, so we both hear him, "James 
Jones killed me." We go before a grand jury and 
state what he said. They will indict, try and convict 
James Jones unless he can prove an alibi. This is true 
in all courts of the civilized world. Now our dear 
ones that we have known all their lives, and would 
take their word for anything, when passing out, we 
say they have lost their minds. For shame. Let us 
be honest and give the same credence to heavenly 
witnessing that we da the evidence of earthly things 

FROM THE SOUTHERN PRESBYTERIAN WHO CAN 

EXPLAIN? 

From the "Life of Dr. Danby," by the Rev. E. C. 
Johnson, I quote. Dr. Danby says : On Sabbath 



114 What We Are and What We Will Be 

morning I was thought so much better that everybody 
went to church, leaving me to my wife's care. I then 
had an experience of which I am as certain as I am 
of my own existence, but which I cannot explain. As 
I lay on my bed, in this easy, calm and rational state, 
I heard for a considerable time, hymn after hymn of 
soft, sacred music coming apparently from the direc- 
tion of Mrs. Sarah Bobcoks'. There was one kind of 
soft instrument accompanied by sweet female voices. 
I could never remember the tunes though I had a faint 
impression that one was a very sweet hymn new to 
me, which I had heard in Westminster Abbey in 
London in 1880. I called my wife to enjoy the music 
with me and asked her if it could not be some of- the 
girls of the neighborhood singing just for my en- 
joyment. She declared that she heard nothing. I 
asked her to go to the back of the house and watch 
Mrs. Bobcoks' house and learn if the music did not 
come from there. She went, watched, listened, and 
declared there was no music, that the house was closed 
and all the family gone to church. After a time the 
music ceased, leaving me much pleased and refreshed. 
Such are the dry facts; what is the explanation? May 
it be that I had come so near death that I heard the 
sweet, faint echoes of the heavenly choir, or can it be 
that this strange music was the deceitful result of some 
morbid cerebral or my own brain now relaxing from 
its tension? I assert no opinion, I know the facts. 1 
quote this that I may relate what was told me when I 
was visiting the family of one of the elders of my 
church in Lownes Church, Alabama, where I was 
preaching in 1859. One of the daughters told me of 
the death of a sister a few months before. The hus- 
band of that sister had taken her to Texas on account 
of her health a few years before her death. The move 
proved only a temporary benefit, as she had lung 
trouble. As the end drew near, fully realizing her 
condition, she said to her physician, who was not a 
Christian, but rather inclined to skepticism, she wanted 



Witnesses of the Truth 115 

him to be with her when she died, that he might see 
how a Christian could die. This proved true, as he, 
with her kindred, was standing by her bed, bidding 
her a loving farewell. After being silent for a little 
while, looking up, she said, "Doctor, do you hear 
that music? It is so sweet, but it sounds a long way 
off.'' She repeated the question a number of times, 
saying, "It is coming nearer. O! it is beautiful!" 
Turning to her friends, she asked, "Can't you hear it?" 
With her face beaming as with joy, as with joy in- 
expressible, she repeated time and again, "Oh, so 
sweet, and it comes nearer ! I never heard anything 
like it." The end came leaving upon her face such 
an expression as w r ords cannot show. Again a few 
months after that, visiting the same house, in conver- 
sation with the same sister, she told me about the 
death of a child of a friend of hers, a short time be- 
fore. There were two sisters, one married, the other 
unmarried, who made their homes together. The 
married sister died, leaving a little daughter, some 
three or four months old, to the care of her sister. 
Some six months after her mother's death, the little 
daughter died. The sisters were both lovely Chris- 
tians. As the little one was passing away, her aunt 
kneeling by her bed watching life ebbing away, the 
little one with closed eyes, as the aunt thought, was 
dead. Very much to her surprise, opening her eyes 
and throwing up her hands, with a sweet smile of 
gladness, called, "Oh, oh, mamma, mamma !" With 
that the end came. Was this all delusion? or, had the 
loving Savior sent to carry to that heavenly home her 
darling little one? Who can tell? Are they not all 
ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them 
who shall be heirs of salvation? 

W W M 

Statesville, N. C. 

Fifth, but not by any means least, General Stone- 
wall Jackson, the praying and fighting hen) of the 



116 What We Are and What We Will Be 

South, one whose word no man can doubt, his last 
words were, "Let us cross over the river and rest 
in the shade of the trees." Who is he or she that can 
doubt the word of this great commander? Who will 
say that he did not see that lovely river, so flashing 
like molten silver, clear and beautiful, the glorious 
halo of that golden land of love, and the beautiful 
trees of rainbow shades and colors? Think you that 
such a man as he would lie? No, I feel assured and 
know by my own experience that ere his carnal body 
was laid down his living soul was under those trees 
across the river, surrounded by his dear ones, and he 
waits to greet his old vets, as they answer their last 
roll call here on earth, the same dear old general, only 
beautified and glorified he lives. 

Another old veteran, Jesse J. Latham, of 1543 
Fourth Street, Macon, Ga., age 72 years, passed over 
January 8, 1908; was ill for one week with pneu- 
monia; saw his mother January 1, 1903, and contin- 
ually during the week. Also saw his daughter Ruby 
that had passed over six years prior. In speaking 
to his wife, would say, "Oh, don't push against Ruby. 
She is there beside you," and would hold out his arms 
and say, "Mother, I am coming." Was perfectly 
conscious and sane regarding his earthly surround- 
ings, and as he passed out addressed Mr. Chas. Ma- 
bry, his brother-in-law, "Oh, what a beautiful place. 
Is this our home, are we going to live here?" 

Witnesses : 
Mrs. Jesse Latham, 
Mrs. S. S. Mabry, 
Mr. Chas. Mabry. 



Witnesses of the Truth 117 

Here we have three witnesses, all honest, consci- 
entious members of the Presbyterian Church, estab- 
lishing what this old veteran saw. First, he has a 
knowledge of, sees, hears and talks to those that he 
had loved and that had previously passed over — his 
own dear ones, his mother and daughter. Also like 
Stonewall Jackson, sees that land and his home in 
that land of love, and as he has lived a conscientious 
life here below his home is much more beautiful in 
that land of glory. He had no earthly reason to de- 
ceive, but just states what he say, heard and knew. 
I wish you to note that it was no passing glance of his 
mother or Ruby, his daughter, but for one whole week 
he saw, spoke to and associated with them. xAlso the 
point that on all earthly matters he was perfectly 
sane. Do you believe them and him? I hope you do. 

Mr. John Smith, of Macon Ga., passed out April 
1886; was conscious and rational of all his surround- 
ings here. Talked for two days with his two children 
that had previously passed over home — John Smith, 
Jr., and Isabelle Smith, and would say, pointing 
where he saw them, "Don't you see them? 'They are 
there. They say that they are waiting for me," and 
just as he passed out called out, "John and Isabelle, 
I am coming." Witness : 

H. J. RlCHTER. 

In this evidence you also see that for two days he 
sees, knows, hears and talks to his own children. 
Don't vou think you would know vour own children. 



118 What We Are and What We Will Be 

especially when they were in your presence contin- 
ually for two days? He was also perfectly conscious 
and rational regarding earthly things. 

Tuscaloosa, Ala., September 6, 1906. 
Statement of Mrs. James O. Abbott, 13 12 Nine- 
teenth Ave., City : In 1863 I was at the side of the bed 
when Lieutenant Gay, of a Tennessee regiment, passed 
over to that land of our Lord. He was wounded in 
the knee at the battle of Athens, Ala. Just before 
passing out he saw his mother, who had passed over 
fourteen years prior, called her by name and tried 
to show her to us. Also said that the room was full 
of angels and tried to show them to us. He was 
twenty-eight years old. of sound mind, and seemed 
perfectly sane. 

Mrs. James O. Abbott. 

Here we have another veteran in the prime of life 
who sees his own loving, beautified mother, called 
by a mother's intense love and by commission of our 
Father and Master, attended by the angels of the 
Most High, comes to greet and welcome her soldier 
boy. Think you that he would state that his mother 
and the angels were there when he knew that in a few 
hours he would be in eternity ? That is the time when 
all men speak the truth. Or do you think for no 
consideration whatever except that giving the evi- 
dence that had been granted to her to others, hoping 
that thereby some one might stop and think and be 
convinced of the truth, be saved and thank her in that 
land of love for doing her duty. 



Witnesses of the Truth 119 

Meridian, Miss., November 24, 1906. 

In 1866, W. E. Sikes, of Brookville, Miss., previ- 
ous to passing over to the eternal spheres saw his 
two boys and daughter that had passed over previ- 
ously, and would say to me, "Don't you see them? 
They are there," calling them by their names, Willie, 
Johnny and Elizabeth. I was in the room continu- 
ally most of the time, and was perfectly satisfied that 
he saw them. I was his wife at the time and mother of 
the children spoken of. 

Mrs. H. F. Harrison. 

Fifth St. and 45th Ave. 

We have here the evidence of a mother and wife. 
She is a lady of excellent character, a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, one of our real, old-fash- 
ioned mothers whose word you can always depend 
upon, and do you think for one moment that she would 
misrepresent any fact, especially regarding her dear 
ones who have gone on before, knowing that in a short 
time she will meet them glorified and beautified ? Here 
we have a father talking to his wife, mother of the 
children that he sees close beside him. Think you 
he would deceive that darling wife? No, he is just 
stating the facts, and like all others that have loved 
our Father and Master he was granted this blessed 
privilege and they were permitted to come and wel- 
come him to that eternal land of love. 

Aberdeen, Miss., August 27, 1906. 
In June, 1884, Mrs. Heisen, of Aberdeen, Miss., 
just before passing out, saw and talked to Miss Lucy 
Jones, who had previously departed this life. Mrs. 



120 What We Are and What We Will Be 

Heiser had during her life in this vale been very kind 
to and dearly loved Miss Jones. Just before passing 
over she said, "Take my hand, Lucy, I am coming,'' 
and passed out with a smile on her face. She was per- 
fectly rational, having just arranged her earthly af- 
fairs. Both were ladies of good Christian character. 
Witness : 

Mrs. Geo. W. Bradshaw. 
Aberdeen, Miss. 

Here we have two intimate friends, one from the 
other land, talking to and recognizing her friend still 
in the flesh. The other in the flesh sees her, hears and 
understands what her friend from the other world is 
talking about and perfectly willing to go with her, 
and in fact asks her to take her hand. 

Selma, Ala., November 5, 1906. 

On February 12, 1871, Miss Emma Fisher, before 
passing out said to her mother, "Mother, father is 
standing by you." Her father had passed over four 
years prior. "He has come for me. I am going with 
him. Don't you see him?" Then commenced to sing, 
"Jesus, the Water of Life Will Give to Those Who 
Love Him." About a month after a piece of music 
was given to me to play, "Sweet, By and By," and 
when I commenced playing it I could hear her, my 
daughter Emma, singing at my side. I had never 
heard it before, and she sang it beautifully. 

Witness : 

Mrs. Tarner Reese. 

Broad St., Selma, Ala. 

We have here a little girl ten years old, unac- 
quainted with the facts of spirituality, just who sees 
her father and knows him, and is surprised that her 



Witnesses of the Truth 121 

mother, his wife, cannot see him also. Also states 
that he has come for her. She hears him and under- 
stands him, is willing to go — he is just her own papa 
— and passed out singing a beautiful hymn. Oh, how 
much there is in this sentence, "I am going with him." 
What do you suppose caused this child to speak and 
even locate her father beside her mother unless she 
actually saw him? Then one month afterward her 
mother hears her singing at her side clearly and dis- 
tinctly. All of these parties were, and their mother 
is, a member of the First Presbyterian Church, of 
Selma, Alabama, well known, truthful and honest. 
She also says, "This was my first husband and my 
daughter." 

Meridian, Miss., December 3, 1906. 
On August 15, 1900, at Biloxi, Miss., Mary Adel 
departed this life. On the 14th, one day prior, her 
mother being beside her bed at the time, Mary raised 
her hand just as though she was holding something, 
and said, "Ma, Ma, here is brother John's hand. Don't 
you see it?" John was her brother that had passed over 
eighteen months prior and when passing out called 
out, raising her hands, "Beautiful, beautiful, beauti- 
ful !" She was thirty-two years of age, a member of 
the Presbyterian Church, a conscientious and truthful 
Christian laborer. She had agreed with her mother 
that if she passed over before her mother and she 
saw T anything she would tell her. 

Witnesses : 

Her Mother, Mrs. Anna Williams, 
Miss Effie Merritt, 



122 What We Are and What We Will Be 

Both of these ladies are of high character, well 
known, respected, truthful and members of the Pres- 
byterian Church, 1708 Twenty-third Ave., Meridian, 
Miss. Here we have a young lady, highly educated, 
of pure moral character, who had lived a Christian 
life, loved by all and noted for her truthfulness. Her 
mother and she had agreed previously that which- 
ever one passed out first would tell the other if she 
saw any of the dear ones gone on before to that land 
of love. This kind of agreement is quite common 
now, as the great question is, Do we live in the fu- 
ture, and how? If not, then enjoy this world. If 
we do, and are wise, we will prepare ourselves for 
the other eternal life. No doubt her brother John 
stood beside her holding her hand, and she feeling 
his hand and feeling it so distinctly thought her mother 
should certainly see what she saw and felt. You see 
she recognizes it as her brother John's, who only 
eighteen months prior had passed over. Don't you 
think she knew him and was trying to fulfill her agree- 
ment with her mother whom she loved, and knowing 
that she was passing over ? Do you think for one mo- 
ment that she would deceive her mother? You or I 
will speak only truth when we are about to cross the 
line. Then when passing out called, "Beautiful, beau- 
tiful, beautiful," holding up her hands. Who can say 
but what this lovely daughter of the Southland did 
not have a vision of even more beautv than General 



Witnesses of the Truth 123 

Stonewall Jackson? Now as to the two witnesses, 
we have none nobler, more truthful in our Southland. 

Rome, Ga., July 12, 1906. 
Mrs. Geo. S. Brown, of East Rome, Spring St., 
age eighty-four and three weeks, was an invalid three 
years. Adopted and raised a young lady, Miss Katy 
Kline, who was bending over her two days before Mrs. 
Brown passed over to our Master's kingdom. She 
was known for her high Christian character. She 
called out, loud and distinct, "Glory ! Glory ! Katy, I 
see your mother." Katy's mother had been a friend 
of here in youth and had passed over twenty-six years 
prior. She was perfectly rational. 
Witnesses : 

Miss Katy [Kline, 
Mrs. P. A. Cato, 
Miss Ella Brown, 
Miss Ella Cato. 

We have in this witness an aged lady of refinement, 
one who still loved the associates of her youth and 
had done an extreme kindness to the friend of her 
youth by adopting and raising her child. Please note 
she was perfectly rational, and this was two days be- 
fore her departure. Sees this friend just as her 
adopted daughter bends over her, speaks out clearly 
and distinctly so that all these four witnesses hear her, 
"Glory! Glory! Katy, I see your mother." These 
four witnesses believe she did. So do I. Do you? 
All are ladies of excellent Christian character. 

Montgomery, Ala., July 25, 1905. 
Airs. Brown's statement: W. P. Tanner, her 
grandfather, passed over eight years before Katy 



124 What We Are and What We Will Be 

Brown was born. Katy Brown's sister, Lees Brown, 
had passed over one year prior. Katy was only about 
eighteen months old. Just before passing out, she. 
Katy, was talking with her father and mother and 
bade them good-bye. She seemed to see others in the 
room and was talking to them, when she called out. 
"Sister Lees, Grandpa, wait, Katy Brown is coming," 
and passed out with a smile upon her face. Oc- 
curred in 1891. 

Witness : 

Mrs. W. K. Brown. 

This witness is a little child eighteen months old 
who has not had the time in this world to become ac- 
quainted with her surroundings, just in her simple 
way telling what she saw. You may wonder how she 
knew her grandfather. He had passed over eight 
years before she was born, also her sister, who had 
passed over when she was six months old. The knowl- 
edge and glory of the spirit birth, language can never 
fully express. She certainly saw them, talked with 
them, understood them and was anxious to go with 
them, as she called, "Sister Lees, Grandpa, wait, Katy 
Brown is coming," although she dearly loved her fa- 
ther and mother. This is a mother's statement, and oh, 
how sacred are our loved ones to us all. 

Americus, Ga v March 25, 1905. 
Mrs. A. J. Cleghorn states that her little son Jack, 
four years and two months of age, while passing over 
to that land of love, our Master's kingdom, being 
perfectly conscious at the time, called his brother, 
who had passed over ten years before, and said, "Wait 



Witnesses of the Truth 125 

for me, little Brother, I am coming," waving his little 
hands. "I hear the bells ringing. Good-bye Mamma," 
and passed over. Witness: 

Mrs. A. J. Cleghorn. 

Here we have again a little boy, only four years 
and two months old, seeing and knowing his brother 
whom he had never seen on earth in the flesh. There 
is no doubt but what he had talked to his brother and 
his brother to him. He must have fully understood 
him. His words express this fact. Waving his little 
hands to him. "I hear the bells ringing." Young as 
he was he fully recognized that he was going with 
his brother and leaving his own mamma. Please also 
note that his mother states that he was perfectly con- 
scious at the time. Do you think this darling little 
child was trying to deceive his mother? No, he saw, 
heard and knew, and related just the facts of the case. 
A little witness, but a grand one of the birth of the 
spirit. Gift of the Prince of Life, Jesus, to us crea- 
tures here below if we only love him. 

Macon, Ga., April 4, 1906. 
Statement of Marion Mays, Mount Mays, and Cap- 
tain Mays : On the 26th of March, 1905, in Augusta, 
Ga., our sister, Miss Katie Mays, age twenty-three 
years, a young lady of high Christian attainments and 
noted for her truthfulness, being perfectly conscious 
at the time, previous to passing over to our eternal 
home, saw her sister who had gone to that land of 
love sixteen years prior, also her mother, who had 
gone to our happy home two years prior, said they 
were bidding her to come home with them, calling 



126 What We Are and What We Will Be 

loudly, "Don't you see them? They are waiting for 
me." In the room were three persons. All heard her 
clearly and distinctly and know she was fully con- 
scious, dalm and happy. 

Witnesses : 

Marion Mays, 
Mount Mays, 
Captain Mays. 

This witness and the witnesses thereto were and 
are all persons of good standing in the Presbyterian 
Church, all of age and matured mind. Miss Katie 
Mays sees her sister and mother who had departed 
this life at different times, but still her own sister and 
loving mother. They talked to her. She sees them, 
hears them, knows them, and understands them. They 
were persuading her to go with them home, to that 
land of everlasting love. She wonders why those in the 
flesh don't see them as plainly as she does. Yes, they 
were waiting just as our dear ones will wait for us 
when we pass over and are reborn. That which is born 
of the flesh is flesh, but that which is born of the spirit 
is spirit. No more flesh, but spirit. Don't you believe 
her and them? I do. 

Statement of Mrs. John Trout. 

Chattanooga, Tenn., November 21, 1905. 
I was very ill and was laid out five hours ; was con- 
scious of all my surroundings of an earthly nature. 
Also saw clearly and distinctly my mother who had 
departed from this earthly life ten years before. I 
knew her. She was just the same kind, loving mother, 



Witnesses of the Truth 127 

only beautified and glorified. She talked to me, and 
I could hear her and understand her perfectly. She 
spoke to me so kindly and gave me great comfort and 
pleasure. I am in good health now and know it was 
my mother. My love for my children was the reason 
for my return to earthly life. 

Witness : 

Mrs. John Trout. 
613 Pine St. 

In this witness of the identity, individuality of the 
spirit we have one that is now living and well, can be 
seen and facts investigated. A lady of high Chris- 
tian standing, perfectly honest in what she saw and 
heard. Saw her own mother. She could not be mis- 
taken and has no reason in making this statement, 
only hoping that some doubter may be influenced 
and set thinking and investigating for themselves, be 
converted and meet her in that land of love. We have 
also here the evidence of a mother's love. She loved 
her children here on earth more than her mother and 
her own happiness. 

Statement of Mrs. E. A. McBride. 

Orlando, Fla., November 27, 1907. 
In September, 1890, my husband, John McBride, 
passed over. About thirty minutes previous he seemed 
to be looking and acting as though he saw other per- 
sons in the room, not discernible to us. Miss Semple 
asked me if she could not ask him what he saw. He 
said in deep thought, hands folded as in prayer, "Yes, 
I see my mother, and my two children, also the little 
one that was drowned and the other, I cannot remem- 



128 What We Are and What We Will Be 

ber her name." The name was Emma. His mother 
and our four children had passed over some years 
previous. We all considered him perfectly sane at 
the time. 

Witnesses : 

Mrs. E. A. McBride, 
Miss Mary Semple. 

Here we have a husband and father just entering 
that land of love, bidding farewell to those here, and 
being welcomed and beholding those gone on be- 
fore at the same time recognizing them each as indi- 
viduals. A man of exceptional character, one known 
for his truthfulness and love for his family. Don't 
you believe he saw them? I do. Won't you? All 
were and are people of first-class standing. 

Memphis, Tenn., May 13, 1907. 
Susan McLean, age eighty-four, passed over at 
Memphis about five years ago. At 3 p.m., before pass- 
ing over, she talked to her dear ones that had previ- 
ously passed over. From 11 a.m., previous day: "I 
am so tired, having shaken hands with so many to- 
day. Oh, the angels are talking to me." She talked 
to her father, mother, sister and brother and husband 
and children. "I am glad to see you, Doctor," speak- 
ing of her husband. 

Witness : 

Mrs. J. K. Parther. . . 
486 Walker St. 

We have again an aged lady leaving this world 
who had lived close to Jesus, seeing her father, and 
mother, sisters and brothers, and also her husband 
and children, all previously passed over. Also the 



Witnesses of the Truth 129 

angels. "I am so glad to see you, Doctor," call- 
ing her husband; was tired shaking hands with so 
many. There was a host came to meet and greet her 
and accompany her home and they were talking to 
her. Oh, joyous meeting, joyous greeting. Could 
you call this death? No, it is glorious birth, transi- 
tion to a land of love with her dear ones. 

Statement of M. M. Moses. 

Vicksburg, Miss., March, 1907. 
Mrs. Alary Moses, aged fifty-four years, of sound 
mind. Illness, cancer of the breast. My mother was 
leaning back in my arms about 9 a.m. Called to me, 
said she wanted to bid me good-bye, as she was going 
to leave this world, and as I was supporting her in my 
arms, she was instructing me about our family here 
on earth, what she wished me to say to each individual 
one, as they were all absent at the time, when she 
asked me if I could see that man in white clothing, 
that was waiting for her, pointing to where he stood, 
and asked me if I could see him ; but I could see noth- 
ing. I was impressed that there was some one, al- 
though I could not see anything. She stated, "Time's 
up, good-bye," and passed out, and she insisted on 
me kissing her good-bye. 

Witness : 

Morris M. Moses. 

Here we have the statement of a Hebrew of high 
standing, whose affection to their parents is well 
known. His mother in passing over was no doubt in 
full possession of her mind and sees a man in white 
raiment not discernible to her son, although he feels 
his presence, and she is waiting to go with him, so he 



130 What We Are and What We Will Be 

must have been pleasant to look upon. What think 
you — was it an angel? Yes, I believe it was. 

Mobile, Ala., Claybourne Ave. 
Katharine McConnell Gordon in 1870, in passing- 
over, said she heard the angels singing. "Oh, how 
beautiful they sing." In 1894, Elder John Gilliard, 
Claybourne Ave., Mobile, Ala., said to his wife's sis- 
ter, "How beautiful the day." It was a bright day, 
but he said "not the day here. I have glimpses of the 
New Jerusalem. I bid you all good-bye. My Savior 
has come for me." 

Witnesses : 

Mrs. John Gilliard, 
Mrs. Susan Porter. 

This was the passing over of a servant of Jesus 
who had given his life to the cause of Christ his Mas- 
ter, therefore the great honor of our Lord coming for 
him. A man well known in the S. P. Church. 

Macon, Ga v August 10, 1908. 
In New Mexico, May, 1894, Mr. E. McCall Davis, 
aged fifty years, disease consumption, saw his dear 
ones, especially his son, three weeks before passing 
over; saw his sister about two weeks. Would talk to 
them often. Would say in the moning, "Carro, my 
sister, has been with me all night." Saw his mother 
and spoke to her and of her about eight hours before 
passing over. Would say, "Is that you, Ma?" then 
recognize her. "Oh, how beautiful you are. Yes, I 
am all right, Ma." 

Witnesses : 

Mrs. Davis E. McCall Davis, 
Elizabeth McCall Davis. 
284 Orange St., Macon, Ga. 



Witnesses of the Truth 131 

This is a man of mature age — and certainly saw 
what he claimed two and three weeks before passing" 
over — recognized and knew them to be his own dear 
ones and tells his wife and daughter. Do you believe 
him and them? I do. 

Mrs. L. McConnell, Atlanta, Ga., as she passed out 
said to her sister, Mrs. Turner, who was sitting by 
her bed, "I see Mr. Turner," — who had previously 
passed over. The sister asked, "You do? How does 
he look?'' She answered, "Just like himself, only his 
face is glorified." Also saw her mother. "You may 
think my mind is wandering, but it is not. I see them 
just as clearly as you sitting beside my bed." 

Witnesses : 

Mrs. Ida Turner, 
Mrs. Hurtell. 

Here we have a young lady who sees her sister's 
husband and her mother, recognizes them fully and 
describes her brother-in-law, tells them that she can 
see them as clearly as she does those sitting by her in 
the flesh. Don't you think she saw them? I do. Won't 
you believe it, too? 

Selma, Ala., November 5, 1904. 
Maria Louise Rosser passed out in February, 1904; 
spoke to Dr. Furnase and asked him if he believed that 
the spirit left the body and entered other spheres. He 
said no. She said that they did, as she had seen her 
loved ones that had passed over before, "and you will 
have to believe it before you go." In November, pass- 
ing out, saw her husband and called him by name, 



132 What We Are and What We Will Be 

saying, "Now I am going to that happy land, and 
Tommy is here to go with me." 

Witness : 

Mrs. Tanner Reese. 

Here we have a lady of matured age passing over 
that saw her husband, recognized him and said that 
he is here to go with me. Who says they do not re- 
tain the same love and position relative to each other? 

In September, 1871, Pilmer C. Archer, at Chester- 
field Court House, Va., was studying for the ministry 
and was preaching fifteen miles from Richmond, Va., 
holding a revival, and in the midst of his sermon saw 
one of his sisters passing out. He was thirty miles 
from the place, had received no mail. She in passing 
out called "Brother Pilmer, can't you come before I 
go?" He stopped in the middle of his sermon and 
walked fifteen miles to Richmond where he received 
his mail, stating that his sister was very ill. This was 
the first organic news that he had. He said to the 
congregation, "I hear my sister Rosa calling me. I 
must go." At the same time he looked at his watch. 
It was 12:30 a.m. She passed over about the same 
time. Witnesses : 

William Allen Archer, 
P. W. Archer, 
George Archer, 
Mrs. Tanner Reese. 

Standing in the pulpit in the church during a re- 
vival, he sees his sister. Her desire was to see this 
brother. Pie must have seen her and heard her or 
he would not have so stated and walked fifteen miles 
to get his mail. That he did see her and heard her is 
proved by her passing out about the same time. All 



Witnesses of the Truth 133 

of these witnesses were in the church at the time- 
Do you believe him and them? I do. 

Moss Point, Miss., February 9, 1907. 
In 1903, T. G. Ezell, of Pickensville, Pickens Coun- 
ty, Ala., aged eighty- four, member of the Baptist 
Church, was passing over to our Master's kingdom; 
was rational ; saw his wife and his brother, who had 
passed over fifty-four years prior, said, "Why, here is 
brother, that I have not seen in fifty-four years." Also 
recognized his wife who had passed over eight years 
prior. Said that he was in better company than with 
those in the flesh. 

Witnesses : 

J. P. Chapman, 
T. P. Chapman, 
W. C. Chapman. 
Hansboro, Miss. 

Here we have a man eighty-four years of age, a 
member of the Baptist Church, who sees his brother 
and is surprised to be greeted by him fifty-four years 
after his passing over. Also his wife, and tells the 
people around him in the flesh that he is in better com- 
pany than they are. He was, and he knew it. 

Jackson, Miss., December 16, 1906. 
At San Antonio, Texas, May 23, 1891, Miss Mamie 
McGill, aged twenty-two, educated at Mary Baldwin 
Seminary, Statesboro, Va., always a truthful, pure, 
lovely lady and child. Illness, consumption. Was per- 
fectly conscious. She wished to send a carriage for a 
lady friend who had made arrangements to come and 
see her just one day before passing out. She said, "Oh, 
the streets of New Jerusalem. How beautiful, and 
the flowers. Don't let them touch them. I will be 



134 What We Are and What We Will Be 

where they grow to-morrow." She took no opiate 

and was perfectly rational. 

Witnesses : 

Mrs. W. C. Jones, 
Mrs. Warner. 

Here we have a young lady, highly educated, noted 
for her truthfulness, that in passing over is granted 
a view of that glorious city and the beautiful flowers, 
one day prior to her passing over. Can we doubt it? 

Statement of Mrs. H. T. Norment. 

Orlando, Fla., November 29, 1907. 
My boy baby passed over May 25, 1890. I was feel- 
ing very sad and worried regarding my child, won- 
dering if I should know him. About three months 
after, I felt his presence, and looking up, saw him, 
just the same features in perfect health and beauti- 
fied. He smiled to me, and I felt a satisfied feeling 
and happy and have been so ever since. 

Witness : 

Mrs. H. T. Norment. 

Here we have a mother whose baby boy seven 
months old has passed over to that land. Three 
months afterwards she feels the presence of her little 
child, and looking up, sees him, clearly, distinctly, and 
knows him to be her own baby. He looks at his 
mother smiling, and she sees him so happy that a sat- 
isfaction has been given her to know that he lives, 
and is much more happy than he could be in this 
world. She is a witness, now living, of continued life. 



Witnesses of the Truth 135 

Statement of Mrs. W. D. Harris. 

Memphis, Tenn., June i, 1907. 
Stanley Johnson Morris, aged seven months, passed 
over May 19, 1901. I dearly loved this child, being 
impressed that he was only lent to me (disease, chol- 
era infantum), and when in intense pain I thought 
he was passing out. I cried out, "Oh, baby, ask God 
to bless mamma," and he gave a faint cry of recogni- 
tion. I was very low with fever about two months 
afterwards, and I asked God to bless me and send me 
something to comfort me. He appeared to me in a 
dream. First, I saw the passing over of my boy, just 
as it occurred, then he returned to me. He was so 
beautiful. He came into my arms and I pressed him 
to my bosom, felt him clear and distinct. He looked 
up in my face so sweetly and intensely, and as he 
looked the expression of eyes that he had, and said 
clearly and distinctly, "God loves mamma." Then dis- 
appeared ; but I felt distinctly the impression of his 
body on my arms after being fully awake ; and during 
the fever he was near me and consoled me. 

Mrs. W. D. Harris. 

Here we have a mother that sees her child who was 
only seven months old, on two occasions. Once, while 
in dream, and then when awake. The first it seems 
that she was under the impression that it was a dream. 
What think you ? 

Statement of Mrs. Mary Cummings. 

464 Rayborn Ave., Memphis, Tenn. 

My son, Logan Cummings, 1874, aged thirty-seven 

years. On March 28, 1901, at St. Louis, Mo., seven 

weeks after his passing over, I was lying on a couch 

facing northeast in broad daylight, a beautiful, bright 



136 What We Are and What We Will Be 

day about twelve o'clock; saw my son come in 
through the east window, pass through the room; 
saw him clearly and know it was him. He had a very 
lustrous eye and medium stature. He recognized 
me, I am sure, and I saw him distinctly. This was 
after a season of prayer and asking the Master for 
comfort, and I was fully awake at the time. 

Mrs. Mary Cummings. 

Here we have a mother reclining on a couch in 
broad daylight, seeing her own son pass through the 
room, clearly and distinctly. She recognized him and 
knew him, and is comforted with the knowledge that 
he lives. 

Mrs. Cummings also states that her husband, Mr. 
Homes Cummings, passed over the 25th of October, 
1896. About two years after, saw him clearly and 
distinctly, standing at the foot of her bed as he used 
to do when she was sick and he in the flesh, about 
4 a.m. When I saw him I was impressed by him that 
he was my guardian spirit and I was fully awake and 
saw him clearly as though he was in the flesh, only 
beautified. Mrs. Mary M. Cummings. 

864 Rayborn Ave. 

This mother who was granted the privilege of see- 
ing her son in broad daylight and recognized him, is 
also granted the privilege of seeing her husband. She 
sees him also in broad daylight, recognizes him and is 
impressed that he still cares for her, loves her and 
protects her outgoings and incomings. Are they not 
all ministering spirits sent forth to those that shall 
be heirs of salvation? 



Witnesses of the Truth 137 

East Macon, Ga., April 25, 1906. 

Miss Verling Everson Guerry, of East Macon, Ga., 

passed over April 1, 1906. Ten days prior, saw her 

mother who had passed over twenty years before. 

She came into the house from the yard, and her face 

looked very brilliant and seemed perfectly happy, and 

said to her sister, Juliet Guerry, that she had seen her 

mother, and her mother said, "My dear child, I will 

come for you in a few days," and she said to her 

mother, "What will Juliet do?" Her mother replied, 

"I will come for her in due time." She was in her 

rational mind and a lady of education and refinement ; 

one noted for her truthfulness. 

Witness : 

_ ... ~ Miss Juliet Guerry. 

East Macon, Ga. 

In this witness we have one that sees and hears 
her mother, who had previously passed over, ten days 
before her departure from this earth when she was 
in fair health with all her faculties. A lady of matured 
age, well known, well loved and honored, of a lovely 
Christian character, a member of the Presbyterian 
Church for years. Her mother had passed over twenty 
years prior. She sees her in broad daylight. The 
joy of seeing her gives her great pleasure, so that her 
very features are beautified. She is perfectly happy 
and willing to go to that land of light and love. Note 
the mother's word, so motherly, "My dear child, I 
will come for you in a few days." Now note the an- 
swer, like the apostle to our Master, "What will Juliet 
do?" Her mother answers, "I will come for her in 
due time." She passes over home ten days after- 



138 What We Are and What We Will Be 

wards. Who says our dear, loved re-born ones don't 
know about us on this earth and are not retained in 
their relative positions in that other? The mother 
from there sees and knows her daughter ; twenty 
years' absence has made no difference, only intensified 
the pure mother love, and knows in a few days she is 
going to have her dear daughter with her, tells her 
so, and as she said, so it was. Will you, dear reader, 
be ready and joyous when your dear ones come for 
you? I hope and pray you may. 

Archer, Fla., January 22, 1908. 

Miss Mary J. N. Whitner, of Sanford, Fla. Her 
brother was in South Carolina, her husband and fam- 
ily were sitting and reading in the hall and could see 
her reclining on the bed about 2 p.m. She declares 
that she was fully awake at the time, and she saw her 
brother standing beside her and he said that he had 
passed over. She jumped up crying that her brother 
was dead and she had seen him, and would not be 
pacified. Telegrams arrived afterwards, stating that 
he had passed over about the time that she saw him. 

Ernest Caldwell. 

Jacksonville, Fla. 

Here we have a sister who is in Florida, her 
brother in South Carolina. She knows nothing of his 
illness and when reclining in broad daylight, under 
the direct view of her family, her brother appears 
before her, she sees him, recognizes him, he recog- 
nizes her as his sister and tells her that he has passed 
over almost at that minute. Who says that they are 



Witnesses of the Truth 139 

not seen by those in the flesh in broad daylight, and 
that they do not live? 

Statement of Mrs. A. K. Marshall. 

Brookville, Miss., August 26, 1906. 
On February 4, 1878, was resting by my husband 
(this was five days after my marriage to him), when 
his first wife, that had departed this life about two 
years prior, appeared to me, and pushed me from him. 
She was clothed in white and looked beautiful. I 
awoke my husband, who was asleep, and I told him 
and described her. He said the description was ex- 
act. He showed me her picture afterward and I am 
satisfied it was his first wife. I had not previously 
known her nor had I seen a picture of her. When she 
pushed me I positively felt her hands, and they were 
very cold. Mrs. A. K. Marshall. 

Here we have a young wife, full of earthly life and 
joy, not looking for nor expecting any spiritual ex- 
perience, in perfect health, close beside the man she 
loved. She sees and feels a living soul, one that she 
has never known or seen, who pushes her away from 
her husband. She saw that the lady was not flesh and 
blood as we are, and her robes are white, and she is 
much more beautiful than earthly women. Although 
the living soul does not speak, still she knows who it 
is by her spiritual impression, awakes her husband 
and describes who and what she saw and felt. By 
her description he is assured it was his first wife, and 
shows her his first wife's picture. She recognizes in 
the photograph the same individuality that had 



140 What We Are and What We Will Be 

pushed her from her husband. Note. She also states 
that she felt her hands when she pushed her, and they 
were positively cold; so you see they still love us 
and claim the same relationship in the other sphere. 
In other words, our wives here will be our wives in 
eternity. 

Statement of Mr. Jno. A. Lowry. 

Dalton, Ga., July 25, 1906. 
On the 8th of May, 1906, my daughter, Miss Cor- 
nelia Lowry, aged twenty-two, was preparing to go 
as a missionary to China. A young lady of excellent 
Christian character, she joined the Presbyterian Church 
at the age of twelve years, was noted for her truth- 
fulness and kindness and loving nature, was passing 
over and seemed to have passed out. There were no 
pulsations nor any evidences of life in the body that 
could be discerned. Revived in about one-fourth hour 
and said, "I have come back to bid you good-by. The 
old and the young are over there, the same as they 
are here. I heard them singing, and the angels sing- 
ing. Oh, the sweetest singing I ever heard, and 
Anna is the sweetest singer of them all." Anna was 
her younger sister, who had passed over at the age of 
eighteen months, sixteen years prior. Then she said, 
"Oh, happy angels, why don't you come. They are 
coming now," and passed out. 

Witnesses : 

Mr. Jno. A. Lowry, 
Mrs. A. E. Lowry, 
E. P. Freeman, 
Mr. C. A. Richardson. 

In the statement of Mr. John A. Lowry, we have a 
lady of perfect attainments and character, a Christian 



Witnesses of the Truth 141 

from childhood, educated for a missionary, whose 
living soul was absent from her body about fifteen 
minutes. During that time she was in our Master's 
kingdom, saw her dear ones, also the angels; recog- 
nized her own sister, and heard her singing more 
sweetly than the angels. What a glorious missionary 
trip ! This was what our dear Father and Master 
and the holy angels educated her for. It was a 
quicker and far more reaching trip than she could 
have made, had she gone to China — a true witness 
for Jesus, a true missionary to all the world, espe- 
cially to us Americans, as so many are losing sight 
of that land of love and the testimonies of their dear 
ones. It seems although her return was brief, yet 
when she beheld her dear ones on earth and earthly 
surroundings she also lost sight of the angel host 
that was with her; also that there was a prearrange- 
ment with the angels that they were to take her again 
to that land of love. Note, also, that she states that 
the old and the young are there, the same as here. 
That is, each one carries his or her individuality, 
features and form. Yea, even the age shows, but 
all are beautiful. Notice the expression, "I have come 
back to bid you good-by." She had just been there, 
and just came back to bid them good-by. Knowing 
that she was going to live in that land of love, her 
work on earth was finished, and now she enjoys the 
fruits of her labors, and will throughout all eternity. 



142 What We Are and What We Will Be 

Dear reader, if you fail to heed such witnesses as 
these, how woeful will be your state. Can you doubt 
her bidding good-by to her dear earthly friends, 
mother and father, and all? Then can you doubt 
the four witnesses who heard her clearly and dis- 
tinctly ? 

Rev. E. H. Bonnett, D.D., Atlanta, Ga., pastor of 
the First Presbyterian Church, when passing over, 
said to his wife, " Carrie, there are no valleys nor 
shadows ; it is all sunshine." 

This brother, like Moody, testifies there are no val- 
leys. Like Moody, he had served the Lord for manv 
years ; like Moody and Stonewall Jackson, he sees 
that land of glory and bears witness to the partner 
of his life. 

Statement of Mrs. Dr. H. E. Leough. 

507 West Bay St., Tampa, Fla., Nov. 6, 1907. 
Mrs. Mary A. Blowers, aged seventy, residing at 
corner of Florida Ave. and Taylor St., passed over 
the 25th of October, 1902. Had high fevers and was 
wide awake. Saw her husband, Warren N. Blow r er, 
who had passed over seven years; prior. He came to 
her bedside and said, "Mary, I have come to take you 
to heaven, to hear the heavenly music." She said 
that he took her hand and led her up a beautiful stair- 
way. Before they reached the top she could hear the 
lovely music. Her husband also took her to a beau- 
tiful spring and they bathed in it. 
Witness : 

Mrs. Dr. H. E. Lough. 



Witnesses of the Truth 143 

Here the husband comes from that land of love and 
takes his dear wife to that land. She hears the music, 
and bathes in the water of life. What do you think 
of it? Don't you think she knew him — was with him, 
as she describes ? I do. I know it by my own expe- 
rience. 

Dwight L. Moody, before passing over, said: "I 
am going out of this old tenement, going up higher 
into a house that is immortal, into a body that death 
cannot touch, sin cannot taint, a body fashioned unto 
his glorious body. Earth is receding, heaven is ap- 
proaching. God's holy angels are calling me. This 
is glorious ! If this is death, there is no valley. I 
have been within the gates, and I have seen the chil- 
dren, Erene and Dwight." These were his two grand- 
children that had passed over. 

Here was a man nigh unto an apostle, one who was 
close to Jesus and worked for Jesus and salvation of 
spirits. He says, "There is no valley.'' He had been 
within the gates. He had seen his two beloved grand- 
children. Of all his sermons, this is the grandest, 
as it should be, being his last. You believed him in 
other subjects? Oh, pray, believe him in this. 

Statement of Prof. A. M. C. Brasch. 

722 E. Church St., Jacksonville, Fla. 
In the year 1901 I went to a Holiness church, at 
Chicago, heard a sermon which brought me under 
just a strong conviction, that I could hardly wait un- 



144 What We Are and What We Will Be 

til the end of the sermon. The sermon came to a close 
and I went forward and bowed before the altar and 
tried to pray ; but as soon as I started I fell back- 
ward and was stiff. This was about n.30, and in this 
state I was taken into the anteroom of the church, 
where I came to about 5.45 ; but before I came to I 
saw my body of clay on the sofa. Afterwards I saw 
that the room was black, black like velvet, and by and 
by I saw that in the upper side in the room came a 
little light, as large as a chicken eye, and it grew very 
fast until it soon became a bright light. In that con- 
dition I came to, and went into the preaching room 
shouting and happy, walking up and down the room 
over the chairs. Preacher and other members pres- 
ent followed, and oh, what a glorious time it was, 
and no one is able to-day to get me back into the 
world, no never. Praise the Lord for making me a 
witness for Him. 

Here we have a professor, a learned German stu- 
dent, who sees his body, that is, carnal body, a sepa- 
rate part from his true self. Also a light, which we 
cannot explain, unless, as I have often seen when in a 
clairvoyant trance state, bright objects from the size 
of a ten-cent silver coin to as large as an electric bulb, 
of different shapes, moving in different directions by 
their own power, enclosed in a film, sometimes chang- 
ing their colors, first, bright, like a diamond, then like 
an electric light, then yellow, green, blue, red and 
crimson, vibrating very rapidly within themselves. Of 
one thing I am satisfied, that they are spirits. July 5, 
1909, one came within three feet of my face, and re- 
mained stationary for what seemed one minute, and I 



Witnesses of the Truth 145 

could see a face — a human face — in it, clear and dis- 
tinct. But the main point is that he recognized his 
carnal body as a separate body from his true self. 

Statement of Mrs. Ella M. Brasch. 

722 E. Church St., Jacksonville, Fla. 
In the year 1903 I was attending a camp meeting, 
and seemingly I was enjoying myself spiritually, and 
felt that I was about as good as those of my brothers 
and sisters in the church, when one Sunday morning 
I was in the testimony meeting and I arose to give 
my experience. When I was nearly ready to sit down 
one of our brothers said to me: "Sister, there is 
something the matter with you. You must get right 
with God." I stood perfectly astonished for a mo- 
ment, and then sat down; but those words kept ring- 
ing in my ears that I must get right with God. The 
first opportunity that I had I went straight to the 
altar, and began to pray. I soon realized that I had 
lost my second blessing, and with sorrow I cried to 
God for mercy. It was not long until I found peace ; 
but while I still was lingering at the altar, it seemed 
like some one put their hand on my head and pulled 
me over, and I was stretched out on the floor of the 
tent from about half-past two in the evening. I was 
lost to this world until after eight o'clock in the even- 
ing. I was first in darkness traveling all alone. On 
and on I went, swift as I could go. I did not know 
where I was going, being in such dense darkness, 
and after I had traveled quite a distance, it being still 
dark on my left side, at a little distance I heard 
groans, cries and kind of screeching, distressing 
noise which none can make, only those who suffer, 
and was much alarmed ; but I traveled on. Very 
soon after that I saw the light, and as I hurried along 
the way, it got lighter and lighter and some one came 
to me, accompanying me. I did not see nor recognize 
10 



146 What We Are and What We Will Be 

my friend at all, who it might have been, but any way 
it kept getting into a most beautiful place and went 
through a beautiful arbor decked with gold and dia- 
monds, and lovely colors of different kinds, and still 
on we went and the scenery more beautiful every step 
we took. I kept looking forward, and seeing things 
were so glorious we came where I could see the pearly 
towers of heaven all trimmed in gold, and I saw the 
beautiful gates ajar, and I thought they were open 
for me, but my friend said, "No, not now." He said 

1 must go back to earth, that my work must be fin- 
ished first, so all passed over, and I was again like 
myself, only so happy. Glory, glory to God. 

Mrs. Ella M. Brasch. 

She no doubt experienced dissociation and saw just 
what she said she did. That light has been seen by 
many. She was granted a sight of one of those lovely 
gates, and traveled the great highway to glory. 

Jacksonville, Fla. 

Dissociation of Louis Stephens, a jeweler, on Main 
Street, near Bay, steward in the M. E. Church, South, 
Jacksonville, Fla. 

In 1896, during an epidemic of typhoid fever in 
Jacksonville he was attacked with it and after being 
cared for and nursed at his home by family and doc- 
tors, and he seemed to be sinking gradually, the doc- 
tors concluded that if they had him in the St. Luke's 
Hospital, where all appliances would be convenient, 
and the best of nurses near, they might continue his 
life. So he was transferred to the hospital. Three 
days after being there he seemed to pass out, or, as the 
doctors decided, he was dead. He was laid out about 

2 o'clock a.m., and removed to the room where they 
keep corpses. About 3 o'clock he revived, and told the 
doctors and nurses that he had been out to his father's 
place, his old home, about two hundred miles west of 



Witnesses of the Truth 147 

Jacksonville, and when he came near there he saw a 
light in his brother John's room. He entered the 
room. His brother John was lying on a bed. The 
doctor and nephew, John's son, were giving his 
brother John some medicine, and the doctor said that 
this was his last hope. They had to pry his mouth 
open to get the medicine in. His second wife was in 
the room kneeling by the bed with her youngest child 
crying, "Oh, oh, what shall I do?" when there ap- 
peared on the right side of the bed his first wife, who 
had passed over twenty years prior ; also on the left his 
daughter, who had passed over ten years prior ; also an 
angel, beautiful to behold, and they were talking to his 
brother John about a beautiful and lovely land, our 
Master's kingdom, and persuading him to come out of 
his carnal body and go with them. He, Louis Stephens, 
stepped up to the angel and asked him if he could not 
go, too, to that land with them. The angel kindly in- 
formed him that he was to return to his body and be a 
living witness of the identity and individuality of the 
spirit. Just then the clock struck two-thirty. He 
heard the clock and noticed it was a new one, and a 
cuckoo came out and called the hour. At the same 
moment his brother John came out of his body and 
was clothed like the others from that land of beauty 
in a robe of pure white. They all gathered around 
him, and they drifted away to that land of glory. He 
then came back to his body. After telling the doctor 
this, the doctor said, "I am sorry for you, Stephen; 
your body has been here all the time. You have lost 
your mind. Now be quiet." The doctor then sent 
for his family, that is his wife and his son, John, 
and when they came he started to tell them of his 
experience, telling them he would get well, but his 
brother John had passed over at two-thirty. His son 
John told him that he knew his uncle was sick, but 
they had received a telegram that he was better last 
evening. They had not told him, Louis Stephens, for 
fear of the effect it would have on him; but the son 



148 What We Are and What We Will Be 

said, "Father, you have lost your mind. Now lie 
down and be calm and you may get well, yet." Just 
then a telegram was brought by a boy, addressed to 
his son. "Your uncle John died at two-thirty this 
morning." 

Now, here we have another old veteran whose body 
was certainly what doctors call dead, and he must 
have certainly been absent from that body in the hos- 
pital to see what he saw and relate what occurred 
two hundred miles west of there. First, the sickness 
of his brother, that he knew nothing of; second, his 
seeing the doctor and his brother John, prying his 
brother John's mouth open, and the remarks of the 
doctor. He also sees his brother John's wife in the 
flesh and hears her mourning. He sees also the first 
wife, who had passed over twenty years prior, and his 
niece, who had passed over ten years, also an angel 
of the Most High, and recognizes him as such ; lis- 
tens to their conversation and understands it. He no- 
tices the exact time that his brother John passed out 
by the new clock and the peculiarities of the clock. 
All these things occurred, and were just as seen by 
him. How do you suppose he knew it if his living 
soul was not absent from his body, and at his old 
home two hundred miles west of where his carnal 
body lay, and understood perfectly as he claims to 
have done ? There is no doubt but what he experienced 
dissociation. He also recognized himself as an indi- 
vidual identity from the others, sees those in the flesh 



Witnesses of the Truth 149 

as well as the angel and his brother's first wife and 
his niece and his brother in the flesh, then in the spirit, 
as separate individuals, and recognizes their relative 
relations to each other. This is a grand witness of 
the spiritual birth of man and a continuance of life 
of fourteen years, and if he proves a true witness of 
Jesus will receive his reward in that land of love. 

The Early Fathers. 

Bede, born 673, passed over 735. In the monastery 
of Jarrow on the Tyne his ecclesiastical history is well 
known, also his commentaries, especially his transla- 
tion of St. John, which he was finishing at the time of 
his passing over. "Go on rapidly," he said to his as- 
sistant. "I know not how long I shall hold out or how 
soon the Master will send his angels for me." Just 
as he had finished he looked up and exclaimed, "Oh, 
the brightness of their coming. How sweet their 
music," and his face beautified and glorified, passed 
over. 

St. Anthony, in one of his sermons, says, "We walk 
in the midst of demons who give us evil thoughts 
and also in the midst of good angels who give us 
heavenly thoughts. When these latter are especially 
present there is no disturbance, no contention, no 
clamor, but something so calm and gentle that it fills 
our soul with gladness. The Lord is my witness that 
after many tears and fasting, I have been surrounded 



150 What We Are and What We Will Be 

by a band of good angels, and spirits, and joyfully 
joined in singing with them." (This is one of the 
early fathers. What think you of him?) 

Tertullian tells us there is a sister among us who 
possesses a faculty of revelation. Commonly during a 
religious service she falls into a trance, holding com- 
munion with angels, beholding Jesus himself when 
the Scriptures are read or Psalms sung; spiritual be- 
ings minister to her. We were speaking of the soul 
once when our sister was in the spirit. She communi- 
cated to us what she had seen in her ecstasy. She 
declared that she had seen a soul in bodily shape that 
appeared to be a spirit neither entity nor formless, 
but so substantial that it might be touched. It was 
tender, shining, of the color of the air, but in every- 
thing resembled the human form. 

Ignatius, native of Syria, pupil of Polycarp declares : 
"Some in the church most certainly have divine knowl- 
edge of things to come. Some have visions, often 
other prophecies, and heal the sick by laying on of 
hands and others speak in many tongues, bring to 
light the soul of men and angels and expounding the 
mysteries of God." I might quote Clement of Rome, 
Barnabas, Pappus, Justin, Appolonarius, Cyprian, Lac- 
tantius and other early fathers. Montanus of Phyrgia 
affirms that these powers are the inherited right of 
every true Christian, and quotes where there is no 
vision the people perish. 



Witnesses of the Truth 151 

Emanuel Swedenborg, 1743: "I have, says he, 
"for these twenty years or more conversed daily with 
spirits and angels. They have human forms, the ap- 
pearance of men and I have a thousand times seen, 
for I have spoken with them as man with other men, 
often with several together.'' 

Dr. Adam Clarke, the great commentator, in com- 
menting upon Saul and Samuel (see his Com., pp. 
298 and 299) : "I believe Samuel did actually appear 
to Saul, and he was sent to warn the infatuated king 
of the approach of his death, that he might have an 
opportunity to make his peace with his God. I be- 
lieve there is a supernatural or spiritual world, in 
which human spirits, both good and bad, live in a 
state of consciousness. I believe that any of these 
spirits may according to the order of God, in the laws 
of their place of residence, have intercourse with this 
world and become visible to mortals." Don't you think 
he saw them? Some do. 

Some of the Present Time. 

Harriet Beecher Stowe: "One of the dearest and 
most operative cravings of the human heart, as it fol- 
lows its beloved one beyond the veil, is to feel some 
assurance that they still love and care for us. They 
have overcome, have risen, are crowned, glorified, 
but still they remain to us our comforters and in every 
hour of darkness their voice speaks to us ; sweet souls 



152 What We Are and What We Will Be 

around us watch us, press nearer to our side, into our 
thoughts, into our prayers, with gentle helping guide. 
We hold to the belief in the unbroken unity between 
those who have passed to a higher life than this. We 
hold to that living faith in things which was the 
strength of the primitive Christians. The first Chris- 
tians believed what they said. We do not. The un- 
seen spiritual world, its angels and archangels and 
saints and martyrs, its purity and its joy, were ever 
before them, and that is why they were such a mighty 
force in the world. St. Augustine says that it was the 
vision of the saints gone before that inspired them 
with courage and contempt of death, and it is true." 
Rev. B. L. Austin, M.A., LL.D., Canada: "I have 
seen again and again these phenomena produced, their 
voices from the angel world caught their living words 
of instruction and impression fresh from angelic lips, 
seen their forms materializing and de-materializing 
like a cloud vanishing from sight and held them by 
the hand." 

There is no death! an angel form 

Walks o'er the earth with silent tread. 

He bears our best-loved things away, 
And then we call them dead. 

— E. Buhver Lytton. 

There is no death. What seems so is transition. 

This life of mortal breath 
Is but a suburb of life Elysian, 

Whose portals we call death. 

■ — Longfelloiv, 



Witnesses of the Truth 153 

Abbott, on death : The Rev. Lyman Abbott, succes- 
sor to Henry Ward Beecher, says, in a late sermon 
on the transfiguration : "Death and the resurrection 
are simultaneous. The separation between earth and 
heaven is a narrow partition and death is but the 
swinging of the doors, and the dead are living, more 
truly living than we, and living and often close at 
hand. So close that we are surrounded by them as 
by a cloud of witnesses. So close that the evil spirits 
breathe into our souls pestiferous imaginations and 
blasphemous thoughts. So close that we have need to 
arm ourselves to fight, not merely against flesh and 
blood, but also against the prince of the power of the 
air, against wicked spirits in high places. So close, 
too, that mothers still keep watch and ward over their 
children and the friend still serves by subtle influence 
as guide and inspiration of his friend. Oh, mother, 
lay down at last your weary burden and only too 
gladly lay it down, but that you cannot bear to be 
separated from the children whose strength is so 
small and whose need is so great. Who has ever told 
you that you are to be separated from them? They 
shall be separated seeming from you, but you shall 
not be separated from them. If you ask, "On what 
do I base this belief, how do I know that it is not a 
fancy?' I answer, partly on intuition, partly on rea- 
son, intimations and suggestion of Scripture, and 
partly on the all but universal belief of the world in 



154 What We Are and What We Will Be 

spirits and spirit communications. Excepting this con- 
ception of the spirit world as a world all about us, 
as a world in which we live, as a world in which we 
are separated only by our own dullness of sense and 
heaviness of vision, the story of the transfiguration 
ceases to be a strange incident, a breaking in upon the 
order of nature and the supernatural. It will seem 
rather strange that many, many of the followers of 
Christ haven't known a like experience of communion 
with the sainted and risen dead." 

Sir Oliver Lodge, F.R.S., Dr., S.C., LL.B., pro- 
fessor of physics, Binghampton University, Eng- 
land, says : "I believe in one infinite and eternal being, 
a guiding and loving Father, in whom all things con- 
sist. I believe that the divine nature is especially re- 
vealed to man through Jesus Christ our Lord, who 
lived and taught and suffered in Palestine nineteen 
hundred years ago, and who has since been worshiped 
by the Christian church as the immortal Son of God, 
the Savior of the world. I believe that the Holy Spirit 
is ever ready to help us along the way towar^i good- 
ness and truth, that prayer is a means of communion 
between men and God, and that it is our privilege 
through faithful service to enter into the life eternal, 
the communion of saints, and the peace of God." 

Dr. J. M. Peebles, M.D., M.A., Ph.D. : "Personally 
I know that the dead are alive — know that friends de- 
parted live and manifest to us ; still know by* careful 



Witnesses of the Truth 155 

observation and patient experience, in connection with 
reason and my best judgment, that the angels of God 
are about us and administer to us. It is knowledge 
that I can rejoice in saying with the apostle, "For 
we know that if the earthly hours of our tabernacle 
were dissolved we have a building of God, a house 
not made with hands eternal in the heavens." Possi- 
bly some narrow-minded person may solemnly say "I 
have never seen the spiritual manifestations." Quite 
likely. Millions have not seen the seas and lakes upon 
the planet Mars, nor the telescope that discovered 
them. Others have not seen Santiago, London or Cal- 
cutta. The more the pity. Ignorance, whether church- 
anic or agnostic, ought to be very modest. What 
individuals have not seen, does not enter into the 
moral quotation for determining truth. Premonta- 
tions, hypnotism, telepathy, transvision, clairvoyance, 
psychometry, and other varied spirit phenomena are 
all about us, and to ignore them without the most 
candid, critical investigation is the shabbiest sort of 
self-stupefaction. Having witnessed levitation, a hu- 
man being floating in the air at high noon, himself 
and myself in the room alone, I am quite prepared to 
believe that the spirit of the Lord caught Philip from 
the sight of the eunuch, leaving him in a far-off 
azotas. Having seen a medium's hand put by the 
entrancing spirit into the full blaze of a kerosene lamp 
and held there unburned, I am able all the more to 



156 What We Are and What We Will Be 

believe that Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego 
walked in the fiery furnace — the form of the fourth 
as a protecting shield in their midst. Having wit- 
nessed spirit writing in the air as well as upon walls 
by a vanishing spirit hand, all the more readily do I 
accept the recorded account of the fingers of a man's 
hand mysteriously writing upon the wall in Belshaz- 
zar's palace. Soundly said the most distinguished of 
the Beechers, "Modern spirit manifestations strength- 
en the faith, higher spirituality and higher Christian- 
ity as one love, is Christ's test of Christianity in Christ 
Jesus, who was the first born among many brethren." 
"We know," said the beloved John, "that we have 
passed from death unto life, because we love the 
brethren." "Pure love is the divine seal of Christian 
discipleship." 

UNION IN THE SPIRIT. 

Different nets of numerous twine 

Catch many fish of many kinds. 
Different creeds of numerous lines, 

Win many men of different minds. 

All saving creeds lay hold of men ; 

More men are saved in heaven. What then? 
All we that love the Lord will meet 

At home above, at Jesus' feet. 

Who then is he who dares to say, 
All must be saved in our own way ? 

Seek ye the truth from God above, 
Cherish the faith that lives bv love. 



Witnesses of the Truth 157 

To love each other let us learn, 

To bear as we by Christ are borne ; 

To love our Father, all in all ; 

And those whom we our brothers call. 

Through Christ alone we reach our home 

By whatsoever road we come. 
All praise to Christ's eternal love. 

Family circles all one above. 

Captain J. F. Chase, St. Petersburg, Fla. : "On 
the battlefield of Gettysburg, with picket shots break- 
ing the stillness of the night, I accepted Christ's invi- 
tation, and went a few rods in the rear of my cannon 
and knelt down by the side of a large rock and made 
my first prayer. I told the good God all my troubles 
and asked him to forgive my sins ; and friends, Christ 
did just as he promised to do. He took the heavy 
burden from me. When I rose from my knees I was 
a very different boy than I was when I knelt down. 
I felt light as a bird; all the darkness and doubts had 
disappeared, and I was rejoicing in God's holy light. 
I felt that all was well with me, and I had no fear of 
the beyond. On the second day of July we had several 
severe battles on different parts of that bloody field. 
In the afternoon and early evening the Confederates 
charged on our batteries on East Seminary hill. The 
fire on our battery, the Fifth Maine, was very severe. 
The enemy knew that our battery was the only bat- 
tery, on account of our position, that could enfilade 
their charging column, so they opened a fire on us 



158 What We Are and What We Will Be 

with two batteries from Berner's Hill, supposing that 
we would reply to their shots; but we took their fire 
and enfiladed their column as they charged up East 
Seminary Hill. About that time one of their snapper 
shells exploded about four feet from me, and I re- 
ceived forty-eight pieces of that shell. My good right 
arm was shattered and torn from my body, my left 
eye torn out, my shoulders and breasts were lacerated 
in forty-eight places, my lungs were pierced and sev- 
eral ribs broken. 

Now, friend, you will hardly believe what I tell you 
as my experience the two days while I lay on the bat- 
tlefield as dead. I am no believer in spiritualism, only 
the spirit or that part which never dies that God gives 
to each one of us as we are born into this world. 
As two of my comrades carried me back and laid my 
body by the side of the rock where I had knelt the 
night before, the body was dead; but that part that 
never dies, the spirit, was hovering over the body. I 
looked down at the body and I could see just how 
I was wounded, and see how my clothing was blown 
from my body just as plain as I see to-day. It seemed 
that my spirit was drawn upwards out of the sight 
of earth, and I thought if this is death it is ten thou- 
sand times better to die than to live. I was perfectly 
happy. I was taken to a very beautiful place where all 
was peace and joy. I do not think it was heaven, but 
the border land of heaven. It seemed that the good 



Witnesses of the Truth 159 

God had not forgotten that soldier boy, but was giv- 
ing him a glimpse of that eternal life that he had asked 
for. It seemed to me that while I was in the spirit 
land there was a spiritual substance to everything I 
came in contact with. There is no language to con- 
vey to you what I saw and enjoyed. I know now 
that I was not permitted to see nor to understand 
many things, as I was only a very welcome guest for 
a short time. While I was perfectly happy and con- 
tented where I was, there seemed to be a far more 
beautiful place where I could hear the most heavenly 
music; but between me and that there seemed to be 
a thin veil or mist that I could not see through. While 
I saw many of the inhabitants of the spirit land I did 
not see anyone that I knew in this world. At the 
same time we all seemed to know each other as one 
great family. My visit to that heavenly land was too 
short to suit me. My spirit came back to my body 
two days after I was wounded. I was picked up with 
the dead. As they took me out of the wagon to bury 
me in the trench with the dead, they found I had a 
spark of life. They gave me a drink of water. They 
said the first words I uttered were, "Did we win the 

battle?" T _ n 

J. T. Chase. 

St. Petersburg, Fla. 

Xow here we have another veteran soldier who fell 
on the battlefield of Gettysburg, wounds caused b) 



160 What We Are and What We Will Be 

bursting of a shell within four feet of him. He did 
not lose all knowledge, as it were, of his surround- 
ings — but has a knowledge of seeing his body, clear 
and distinct, and just how and where he was wound- 
ed and the torn and soiled condition of his clothing. 
Notice, he himself, the true I, is floating above the 
body and looking down upon it. Also, please note 
that his body lay for two days on that battlefield 
where he was considered dead. He also states that 
if what he experienced was death, it was ten thousand 
times better than living; also that all things in that 
land had a spiritual substance. He was perfectly hap- 
py. He also saw many of the inhabitants of that land. 
This was a case of dissociation of the elements of the 
body. What think you of it? He is now living in 
fair health, a leading business man of the city, and can 
be, as well as many other of the witnesses, consulted 
with. He is also a leading member of the church — 
well loved, and a gentleman of high standing. 

TO THE ANGELS. 

Come angels! I would join thy throng: 

Just waft my living soul along: 
I long to hear thy heavenly song 

And join its roundelay. 

I'd see the city of my King, 

Its gates, its mansions, everything; 

Those lovely robes of cream and gold 
That seraphs' queenly forms enfold. 

I'd love to note the kingly mien 
Of those who see as they are seen, 

And in green pastures softly tread, 
As by still waters I was lead. 



Witnesses of the Truth 161 

And O such glory fills my soul; 

Great waves of gladness o'er me roll, 
As Jesus, Savior, toward me hies, 

To wipe the moisture from my eyes! 

Then guard me round, angelic host, 
Protect from all the spirits lost, 

Xo matter at what worldly cost, 
Lead to eternal day. 

A. Phinney. 

Dr. Duncan McDougal, member of the Massachu- 
setts Medical Society, has astonished the world — that 
is, he and his associates, Dr. John Sproule, house 
physician for the hospital, Dr. William Victor Grant, 
and Dr. Harry Emons, of Jamaica Plain — by the state- 
ment that he has succeeded in weighing the living 
soul of man. The subject is placed on elevated 
scales and he ascertains that the moment the spirit 
and soul leave the body the scales drop immediately 
from one ounce to one half an ounce, according to 
the subject. A number of tests have been made, prov- 
ing the fact. He says that the spirit must be a space 
occupying body, also that the soul substance is so fine 
that it cannot be confined by any known material. 
He is of the opinion that it resembles the X-ray, 
which will pass through the most dense substances. 
Also the soul being substance that can be weighed, has 
gravity, and, being a bodily substance, can rise like 
a balloon. It is different from the body material. He 
is right as far as he goes. It is certainly a gaseous 
11 



162 What We Are and What We Will Be 

substance, the full form of the person, and as the 
weight is only one ounce or one half ounce and still 
the same size of the man it is much lighter than air, 
and if he only knew it, the soul is lighter than the 
spirit. Without soul the spirit is held by gravitation 
in the earth according to its impurity, while if the 
spirit is fully or partly clothed upon with soul, it can 
float or drift to the highest spheres — in fact, visit all 
spheres in space, if fully clothed upon with soul. 

Astral Excursions, 
by franz hartmann, m.d. 

It seems that at the present state of human evolu- 
tion a considerable development on psychic capacities 
is taking place in Europe and America. Persons who 
never heard of spiritualism or occultism find them- 
selves, to their own surprise, in possession of occult 
powers, and while the scientists quarrel about the 
theory which admits the existence of an astral body 
the number of people increases who are capable of 
leaving their physical forms and making excursions 
in the astral body or dream body of whose existence 
they never heard. Thus, for instance, a lady of my 
acquaintance writes me from Berlin as follows: 

"The gentleman to whom I am engaged to be mar- 
ried has been an officer, but he has left the army. 
Shortly before that event, having retired at night, 
he found himself suddenly standing in the midst of 



Witnesses of the Truth 163 

his room while his physical body was in his bed. The 
situation seemed rather strange to him, as he had 
never heard of such things. 

"He walked about the room, looked at the different 
objects for the purpose of convincing himself that he 
was still in possession of his reason; he went to his 
desk and read in a book that was lying open upon it, 
but in spite of his efforts to turn a page he was un- 
able to turn it. He then went to the window, looked 
out in the street, saw the lanterns and gaslights flick- 
ering; in short, he saw in this condition everything 
just as it appeared to him in his natural state. It 
then occurred to him that he was in his spiritual body 
and he wondered whether it would be possible for 
him to pass through a solid wall. He tried it and 
found himself in an adjoining room, where he saw 
one of his comrades sitting at a table and making a 
drawing. In vain he tried to call his attention. He 
touched him, spoke to him, breathed upon him; but 
his friend continued his work without taking notice 
of all this. My betrothed felt very sorry because he 
could not make his presence known, and returned to 
his rooms, where he saw his body still lying on the 
bed, immovable as before. He then went through the 
closed window out into the street and went to the rail- 
way station, where he saw the people and the shifting 
of trains. Finally he came to a tunnel, which he en- 
tered and saw some! working men at their labor. He 



164 What We Are and What We Will Be 

had never been in that tunnel and did not know of 
its existence. Returning to his room, he saw his 
servant open the door and enter. The servant seemed 
to sniff the air and hurriedly went to the bed, shak- 
ing the body of his master, while the latter stood by 
the side of it looking at the procedure. The servant 
then tore open the window. The officer awoke owing 
to a sensation of cold, and asked the servant what was 
the matter. The servant replied that there was coal 
gas in the room and that it seemed to him that the 
Herr Lieutenant was dead. Upon being asked what 
caused him to return to the sleeping room at that hour, 
he said he had suddenly been overcome by a feeling 
that he ought to return, to look once more after the 
stove. It is clear that, if the servant had not returned, 
the officer would have died, and the spirit could not 
have returned into the body. The next day he went 
to the tunnel, where he found everything as he had 
seen it during the night, and he also convinced himself 
that his friend was in the adjoining room, was making 
the drawing, but with all this he still does not believe 
in a continuation of conscious individual existence af- 
ter death." 

To this I may be permitted to add a similar exper- 
ience of my own which I had in Colombo, Ceylon, in 
1884. I went with a friend to a dentist to have a 
tooth extracted. I took chloroform, and after getting 
under its influence I soon saw myself standing be- 



Witnesses of the Truth 165 

side the dentist's chair, in which my body was lying. 
I appeared to myself just the same person as when in 
my normal state. I saw all the objects in the room, 
heard all that was spoken ; but when I tried to lift 
one of the instruments on the little table next to the 
chair, I could not do so, as my fingers passed through 
it. Since then I have occasionally seen myself step- 
ping out of my physical form, and this occurs in two 
ways, viz: if, while the separation takes place my 
consciousness is centered in the physical body, I see 
myself in the astral body standing before me at the 
side of the bed, and if my consciousness is the center 
of the astral body, I see my physical form lying in 
the bed. I have never made consciously any astral 
excursions to distant places, but such experiences may 
be sufficient to convince one that man has an astral 
body capable of existence independent of the physical 
form, and to those who have experienced such things 
the doubts of those who have experienced nothing may 
appear quite as unworthy of consideration, as would 
the arguments of one who had never seen railways 
and were in consequence to deny their existence. 

Exploration by the World Invisible, 
by camille flammarion. 

It is absolutely certain that one soul can influence 
another soul at a distance and without the aid of the 
senses. Many dying people, I know, have been told 



166 What We Are and What We Will Be 

by telepathic communications, by aspirations subjec- 
tive or objective, called by voices they distinctly heard, 
by songs, noises and movements and impressions of 
different kinds. We can have no doubt on this point; 
the soul can act at a distance. Mental suggestions 
seems equally certain; psychic communications be- 
tween persons who are living is also proved by a large 
number of cases that have been observed and re- 
ported. There are psychic occurrences as well as 
aerial and electric currents. Telepathy is nothing 
new. It held a foremost place in ancient literature. 
The works of Homer, Euripides, Ovid, Virgil and 
Cicero often bring forth cases of manifestations from 
the dying and the dead. We may see without eyes, 
or hear without ears, not by the unnatural excitement 
of our sense of vision of the hearing, but by some in- 
terior sense, psychic and mental. The soul by its in- 
terior vision may see not only what is passing at a 
great distance, but it may also know in advance what 
is to happen in the future. The future exists po- 
tentially, determined by causes which bring to pass 
successive events. Positive observation proves the ex- 
istence of a psychic world as real as the world known 
to our physical senses, and I shall never give up the 
exploration of this world, which I hope to carry to 
an end if the time indispensable to the work shall be 
allowed me. But, on one hand, it is proper and proven 
not to give one's self up exclusively to occult sub- 



Witnesses of the Truth 167 

jects, for one might soon lose the independence of 
mind necessary to form an impartial judgment. It is 
better to look upon such studies as not one's main ob- 
ject in life, but as recreation of a superior order most 
curious and interesting. There are foods and drinks 
which it is most wholesome to take only in small 
quantities. On the other hand, our earth turns very 
quickly, and days pass away like dreams. I hope, 
nevertheless, to give myself the scientific pleasure of 
studying a portion of these mysteries, and perhaps 
what one man cannot do may be done by others. 
Everyone may bring his little stone to assist in the 
construction of the future pyramid. I ask my friends 
to lay up knowledge to work and hope. We live in 
the midst of an invisible world, in which forces are 
at work of which we know very little, and this agrees 
with what we know about the limitation of our physi- 
cal senses and phenomena of nature. 

Sir William Crooks, the distinguished English 
physicist, who invented the tube of the Roentgen 
Rays, claims to have touched, photographed and even 
kissed materialized bodies of spirits. 

William T. Stead, founder and editor of the Review 
of Reviews, of London, an enthusiastic spiritualist, 
claims not only to have communication from the dead, 
but to have freely written down the thoughts of liv- 
ing men miles away. 

The American Society of Psychical Research pub- 



168 What We Are and What We Will Be 

lished by Prof. William James the following account 
of the strange clairvoyance case of Mrs. Tytus, of 
Lebanon, N. H. : 

On Monday, October 31, Miss Bertha Huse left 
her home in Endfield, N. H., at 6 a.m., before the 
rest of the family had risen. She took her way down 
the street toward the so-called Shaker Bridge. Her 
family, learning of her absence, instituted a search 
for her and during the greater part of the day one 
hundred and fifty men, more or less, hunted the woods 
and lakeshore in that vicinity. This search proved of 
no avail. Mr. Whitney, a mill owner of Endfield, sent 
to Boston for divers. A diver named Sullivan worked 
the better part of all Tuesday and up to Wednesday 
noon without success in the lake. 

On Wednesday evening, November 2, Mrs. Titus, 
of Lebanon, N. H., a village about four and one-half 
miles from Endfield, while dozing after supper, 
aroused the attention of her husband, who was seated 
near her, by her noises and extremely horrified coun- 
tenance. When he spoke to her she failed to answer 
him, and it was necessary for him to shake her before 
arousing her to consciousness. When she was con- 
scious, the first thing she said was, "Why did you dis- 
turb me? In a moment I should have found that 
body." After this she told her husband, "If I behave 
very peculiarly to-night, or cry out, or seem greatly 
disturbed, do not on any account awaken me, but leave 
me to myself." At some time during the night Mr. 
Titus was aroused by the screams of his wife. He got 
up, lit the lamp and waited, obeying his wife's in- 
structions. She, during the following interval, though 
not awake, spoke in substance as follows : She fol- 
lowed down the road down to the bridge, and on get- 
ting part way across it stepped out to that jutting 
beam, which was covered with frost. There she stood 
undecided whether to go into the water there or to 



Witnesses of the Truth 169 

go up over the hill to the pond. While so standing 
she slipped on the log, fell backward and slid under 
the timber work of the bridge. You will find her ly- 
ing, head in, and you will only be able to see one of 
her rubbers projecting from the timber work. 

Early in the morning, at her earnest solicitation, 
her husband went with a Mr. Aver, an employee of 
Amalca Flannel Company, at Lebanon, and asked him 
for leave to absent himself from the mill that morn- 
ing, in order to go with his wife to the Shaker Bridge, 
at Endfield. He then told Mr. Ayer the story sub- 
stantially as above. Mr. Titus also told the story to 
Mr. W. R. Sunderland, as well as to certain other 
persons, all in Lebanon, before he went with his wife 
to Endfield, where he told other parties of the occur- 
rence, and asked Mr. Whitney, who had been fore- 
most in the search, to accompany himself and wife 
to the spot his wife was desirous of investigating. 
When they reached the bridge Mrs. Titus pointed 
out a certain spot where she said they would find the 
body in the position as above mentioned. Mr. Whit- 
ney, who was then one of quite a number at the spot, 
sent a messenger to get the diver who had been work- 
ing in the neighborhood of that place on previous days. 
On his arrival, Mrs. Titus pointed out to him the 
spot where she said the body lay. He said, "I searched 
there yesterday and found nothing." She said, "Yes, 
you searched there, and there," pointing to a certain 
spot, "but you did not search there, and if you will 
go down you will find only the rubber of her shoe pro- 
jecting from the timber work." To satisfy her, he 
put on his diving suit and went down at the point 
indicated. After a moment or two the bonnet of the 
deceased rose to the surface and shortly after the 
diver came up, bringing the body. The diver then 
said, "I did not look in this place yesterday, as the 
brush and debris were so thick there that I could not 
see. In fact, all I could feel of the body was the rub- 
ber projecting from the timber work," 



170 What We Are and What We Will Be 

Mrs. Titus' grandmother is said to have had a sim- 
ilar power in her day, but Mrs. Titus is not known 
to have made any pretense of being a clairvoyant, 
having never used her trances for any pecuniary re- 
ward or for the sake of any notoriety. On the day 
following, viz., November 4, Mrs. Titus was ill. The 
diver, Michael J. Sullivan, who found the body from 
Mrs. Titus' instructions, made a signed statement to 
the Society of Psychical Research, which is in part 
as follows : 

"Mrs. Titus walked along the bridge and came to 
the spot and said, 'This looks very much like the place 
I saw in my trance last night.' At last she said she 
was sure that that was the place. I took a guide line, 
with a sinker, and threw the sinker as near the spot 
as I could. I then placed the ladder and put on my 
suit and went down. Mrs. Titus had told me the body 
was lying head down, only one foot with a new rubber 
showing, and lying in a deep hole. I started down 
the ladder, which extended about five feet under the 
water. When I swung off of the ladder, I went side- 
ways and then turned. As I struck the cribwork, ten 
feet below the ladder, I turned to face the ladder, 
and my hand struck something. I felt it and it felt 
like a foot. I stopped short where I was. It is my 
business to recover bodies in the water, and I am not 
afraid of them ; but in this instance I was afraid of 
the woman on the bridge. I thought to myself, how 
can any woman come from ten miles away and tell 
me or any other man where I could find this body! 
I investigated and felt her foot, and made sure it 
was a body. She was lying in a deep hole, head down. 
It was so dark that I could not see anything. I had 
to feel entirely. I pulled her out, carried her up till 
I could get the light from above, and then arranged 
her clothing by laying her out on the crib of the 
bridge. When I had laid her out on the crib, I 
reached for my guide line, but found I could not pull 
it up. I had to take out my knife and cut it as far 



Witnesses of the Truth 171 

up as I could reach, and then I tied the line under 
her arms. The line was simply a clothes line, six 
thread. I then came up and asked for Mr. Whitney. 
I said, 'She is down there.' Mr. Whitney said, 'I 
know it.' I thought Mr. Whitney had been convinced 
pretty strong. He said it turned out that when I 
pulled her out of the hole her hat came off and rose 
to the surface, and Martin, who worked the pump for 
me, came near getting into trouble by being pushed 
off the bridge when the hat appeared on the surface, 
because the people rushed to the side of the bridge. 
Fortunately he was not pushed off. We had a man 
there in a little skiff who pulled her up. Mr. Whitney 
asked me what I thought of it. I told him I did not 
think, I was stunned. There are two statements that 
Mrs. Titus made that are absolutely correct. She 
located the place where I was to go down, also told 
me that the body was lying head in, in a deep hole, 
with one foot sticking up with a new rubber. I was 
down in about eighteen feet of water. It was so dark 
nobody could see down there. She must have seen 
the body as it was lying, because she described the 
position and she had already pointed out the place 
I was to go down, and nobody could have known 
who could not have seen the body, as it was lying on 
the bottom. If you ask me how she knew it, I don't 
know ; but if you will ask me if I believe in it, why, 
I have been convinced against my will. If my best 
friend should have told me, I should have thought 
he had seen a ghost, but if ever I have a similar case 
and can't find the body, I shall introduce the parties 
to Mrs. Titus and she will find it." 

The following paragraphs are taken from an ac- 
count by Dr. Kennedy, which was signed as true by 
Mrs. Titus : 

"She, Mrs. Titus, walked down the bridge and came 
back saying, 'George, she is down there.' She ex- 
plained that she could see the rubber just as plainly 
as while in her trance the night before. Mr. Titus 



172 What We Are and What We Will Be 

said she located the spot in the night, and that he 
could and did recognize it from her description. After 
the diver came up with the body he said he was not 
afraid of the woman in the water, but of the one on the 
bridge. Mrs. Titus fights against these trances, as 
she is usually ill for some time after." 
This is a case of dissociation as well as clairvoyance. 

A Spirit Guide Runs an Engine. 

No danger lurks in the path of No. 15. Two driv- 
ers perch on the same bench in the locomotive's cab 
and guide its destiny. One is Horace J. Seaver, vet- 
eran engineer and hero of many hairbreadth escapes. 
The other is the spirit of a man that was. Unseen, 
unheard, the spectre has been at the throttle for years 
guiding and guarding the lives of those sleeping in 
the darkened coaches behind. No. 15 is the Big Four 
fast express which runs into Chicago over the Illi- 
nois Central tracks from Kankakee. The train is 
pulled by an Illinois Central locomotive, of which 
Mr. Seaver is the engineer. For forty-three years 
the veteran has been handling the throttle of the Illi- 
nois Central. For forty-three years Mr. Seaver has 
been a spiritualist ; not one of the table-raising, bell- 
ringing kind, but an intelligent believer that spirit 
bodies exist. He says that he has had innumerable 
evidences that a spirit hand guides his engine through 
fearful dangers and many escapes. Whenever he 
climbs up in his cab he knows that the spectral engi- 



Witnesses of the Truth 173 

neer is sitting beside him ready to extend the hand of 
warning in the time of need. Mr. Seaver was in the 
cab gazing far out along the track, one dark night, 
wondering how many more trips he would make be- 
fore his good spirit deserted him. In the train were 
more than one thousand old soldiers going to the 
reunion at Campaign, 111. The throttle was out to 
the last notch and the speed was more than sixty miles 
an hour. Suddenly the engineer heard a soft voice 
whispering in his ear: 

"The bridge is burned; the bridge is burned." 

As quick as possible Mr. Seaver set the airbrake 
and stopped the train. In the coach one thousand 
old soldiers were sleeping. The conductor hurried for- 
ward to the engine. 

"What do you mean by stopping this train out 
here?" he demanded, angrily. 

"You had better go along the track and find out," 
said the engineer, quietly. 

Only a few feet ahead of the engine was the river, 
and over the river hung the charred remains of the 
big bridge, which had burned only a short time be- 
fore. The one thousand veterans were saved. This 
happened in 1890, and Mr. Seaver was hailed as a 
hero over all the country. "But it wasn't me that 
did it," said the engineer, modestly. "It was some- 
thing unseen. Something we do not know anything 
about. I did not deserve any credit at all. I just 



174 What We Are and What We Will Be 

heeded the warning that was given me. There are 
numerous other instances where the same voice has 
given me warning just in time to save the lives of 
my passengers." — Chicago Journal. 



SOME OF THE SPIRITUAL EXPER- 
IENCES OF AUTHOR 



Given to Qualify Him to Write This Book. 



The spirit upon me. On Sunday evening, August 
20, 1899, while I was speaking in a Christian En- 
deavor meeting, in the First Baptist Church, in Jack- 
sonville, Florida, I was dazed with the power of the 
spirit upon me and within me, and breaking away 
from the subject on which I was speaking, I cried 
out, "Woe! Woe! unto thee, daughters of Jackson- 
ville! Weep not for those that have gone on before, 
but rather weep for thyselves. Thou, as a city, hast 
been weighed and found wanting. Thou hast crushed 
thy brothers and sisters within thy bounds; yea, 
throughout the state hast thy crushing and example 
of life been felt. The great sins of this city are com- 
mitted by those who know better, and can, if they 
would, do good. Not among those who by their en- 
vironments are incased in sin, but to those who could 
do good and will not, am I grieved most with, saith 
Jehovah. Thou shalt be destroyed. The edict hath 
gone forth and cannot be rescinded. Woe! woe! 
unto thee, for thou art as it were already destroyed; 



176 What We Are and What We Will Be 

but thou mayest pray that it will not come in the 
nighttime, as the loss of life may be less." 

I did not stay in the church for service, I was so 
dazed and sorrowful, but happy. I walked down to 
the Presbyterian church, and sat in the! congregation. 
The next morning, meeting some of my friends, they 
wanted to know if I had stated that the city was to 
be destroyed. I answered that I had, as the spirit 
was upon me, but by twelve a.m. I had packed my 
grips and left the city, and did not return until after 
the fire that occurred about six months after. I 
thought the spirit told them of it, and it was de- 
stroyed, and I have no doubt but some of them un- 
derstood and prayed, as the fire started in the morning. 

VISION. 

On November 8, 1899, I was between Lake Butler 
and Lawtey, about sixty miles southwest of Jack- 
sonville, and near the Connor Bridge, west of Law- 
tey. I felt as though I would prefer to spend the 
night with our heavenly Father and Master, which 
I have often done, and especially since my visit to 
that land of light and glory, always carrying a small 
tent, two meals for myself and two feeds for my 
horse, while traveling. It was just about dark when 
I drove into the woods, tied my mare, fed her and 
pitched my tent. All went as usual, and I was lying 
with my head bolstered up higher than I usually do, 



Experiences of the Author 177 

wide awake. About one o'clock I suddenly looked 
out through the tent, which was heavy duck with oil 
cover, and through heavy timber, just as if there were 
no tent or timber there. I could see at least one-third 
of the heavens. In the center and directly in front 
of me, high up in the sky, was a large star, beauti- 
ful ethereal colors, about two-thirds as large as the 
full moon, and small stars all around all over the 
heavens, and on the surface of the earth were small 
palms. From the ground stretching up on each side 
of this grand star, the tops arching beautifully away 
from it and extending much higher, were twelve 
leaves of the phoenix dactylifera (commonly known as 
Assyrian date palm), six on each side, butts in the 
ground, with the small stars shining through between 
the leaves. I looked upon this beautiful vision for 
some time, when I commenced counting the palms' 
leaves from left to right, and just as I had finished 
counting twelve, I heard angels passing through the 
air, high up in front and to the right, shouting, "He 
with the twelve apostles cometh soon." At this mo- 
ment the mare broke her rope and ran away through 
the woods. I could hear her running, but was so fas- 
cinated with the beautiful vision that I let her go. At 
the same moment I was impressed or heard a voice, 
I think it was my guardian angel, said, "There will 
be no freeze south of this point that will kill one of 
these palms for twelve years." They are about as 

12 



178 What We Are and What We Will Be 

tender as a two-year-old orange tree. There has been 
no general freeze since, neither can earth and hell 
make one during this twelve years. Irl Hicks prophe- 
sied that there would be three during the winter 1900- 
01, and the United States Weather Bureau has sent 
out telegraph notices ten times that it would be twenty 
degrees above zero at Jacksonville and twenty-five de- 
grees at Tampa, but it has not come, in a way that 
would kill a two-year-old tree in good health. 

APPEARING TO OTHERS IN THE LIVING SOUL. 

About one o'clock in the afternoon of Thanksgiv- 
ing Day, 1899, I drove into the town of Dunnellon, 
Fla., left my horse and buggy at the livery barn and 
started to the hotel, and as I was passing down the 
street, just in front of his store, I saw Mr. C. W. 
Rush, who was and is one of the leading merchants 
of that place. I am personally acquainted with his 
father, Rev. C. W. Rush, of Judson, Fla., and his 
mother, and both are good Christians. As I was pass- 
ing Charlie I felt the spirit prompt me, and turning, 
extended my hand to him, and as we clasped hands, 
said in a friendly way, "How is it, Charlie, your 
father and mother are such good workers for Christ, 
and you are doing nothing for Him in this town, so 
spiritually dead?" He laughed at me, and I passed 
on. I saw him again in the evening, standing on the 
porch of the hotel, as I was going in, but did not 



Experiences of the Author 179 

speak to him. The first I knew I was standing by 
Charlie's bed. He said afterward it was about two 
o'clock in the morning. I was clothed in a white 
raiment, white with a tinge of gold, the same as I 
had on in that land of glory, though no spots on it, 
my arms folded across my breast, and was talking 
to him. He was partially raised up in bed, looking 
very scared. I became more earnest in my conversa- 
tion and was holding out my right hand towards him, 
with two fingers pointing at him, and coming nearer. 
He raised up in the bed and struck at me. I then 
turned and walked through a solid wall. Upon enter- 
ing my body or earthly shell, I woke up immediately, 
and my first thoughts were, what a natural dream that 
was ; how natural Charlie looked, and how scared ; 
but my walking through a wall, how ridiculous. (This 
was before I had read or studied any scientific works.) 
I went to sleep again and upon waking up in the 
morning about seven o'clock, the first thing I thought 
of was, What a peculiar dream, and how natural 
Charlie looked, — how real and scared. But when I 
thought of going through the wall, laughed; still, 
felt fuller of the spirit, and happy. After breakfast 
I called on a number of persons on business, and 
about ten o'clock entered Charlie's store. He was 
waiting on a customer about the middle of the room, 
and when he saw me he started towards the rear and 
behind the counter. I followed him to speak to him, 



180 What We Are and What We Will Be 

when he threw up his hands and said, "Don't you 
come near me." I advanced towards him, when he 
cried, out more intensely, "Don't you come near me," 
and seemed to be in perfect terror, when his brother 
touched me on the shoulder and said: 

"Don't pay any attention to him, Uncle Mac; he 
seems to be out of his head this morning." 

I turned and went out of the store, never thinking 
of what I then considered to be a dream. After fin- 
ishing up my business in Dunnellon, and when about 
two miles out of town, the Holy Spirit spoke to me 
so plainly, and said, "Thou preached to C. W. Rush 
in the spirit this morning." I felt a thrill of joy and 
glory pass through me, and I knew it was true. About 
seventy days afterwards, I was in Dunnellon again, 
and as I entered Mr. Rush's store he came towards 
me, with both hands extended, and catching hold of 
my hands, said, "You don't have to preach to me in 
the spirit again, Uncle Mac; I am converted. Don't 
you see it?" His face was changed and radiant, his 
eyes filled with love, and tears of joy running down 
his cheeks, and the joy and glory that passed through 
me, and filled me. He is now a great worker for the 
Master. I love him as a son, and he loves me; but 
the best of all, we both adore Jesus. 

Dunnellon, Fla., January 29, 1903. 
Donald W. McDonald, South Jacksonville, Fla. 
Dear Sir and Brother: Yours with proof to hand, 



Experiences of the Author 181 

and read with great pleasure. I see nothing that I 
could add to it that would make any improvement on 
it, as I think it is complete with my approval, which 
I do with pleasure. 

With best wishes, I remain, as ever, your friend, 

Charles W. Rush. 

FIRST SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE DISSOCIATION. 

On August 25, 1869, in New York City, shortly 
after the passing over of my first wife to that land 
of glory, I was taken very sick. The doctors gave me 
up. I lost knowledge of my surroundings here on 
earth. I went out through space (that is, my living 
soul), came to a beautiful river about two hundred 
feet wide, oh, so pure and clear! The opposite bank 
was one body of golden effulgency, just glorious in 
appearance. I started to walk into the river to cross 
it, when I heard a voice — how well I knew it — and 
looking up, I saw my wife on the opposite bank. She 
was clothed in white raiment, the only color being 
just a tinge of gold. I started toward her, when she 
raised her right hand, palm toward me, her face and 
form very radiant and beautiful, eyes filled with love, 
and said to me, with a voice clear and distinct, "Not 
vet, not yet; go back. You have duties to perform." 
It was my wife, I know, and when I became con- 
scious of my surroundings in this world I told those 
around me that I would get well, and that I had seen 
Lizzie, my wife. 



182 What We Are and What We Will Be 

Dissociation Visit to Land of Darkness and 
Land of Light. 

On August 25, 1899, I felt the tingling in my hands 
and feet and arms and limbs, like when they go to 
sleep, also numbness and dizziness, and I was soon 
cold, numb and still. This was about seven o'clock 
in the evening. I passed out through space (that is, 
my living soul) and entered a land that was dark, 
about as dark as a quarter moon slightly clouded. It 
was a peculiar darkness and became darker as I ad- 
vanced into the country. This light, if light you could 
call it, only extended upwards about two hundred 
feet. Above that were black, rolling clouds, like a 
cyclone or tornado, though it was still where I was. 
The country was a perfect desert of barren rocks of 
brownish color, mountainous and broken, narrow de- 
files with narrow walls twelve to hundreds of feet in 
height, and occasionally small barren valleys where 
spirits wandered by twos and groups of ten and 
twenty, every man's hand being against every other 
man, with faces and features like convicts under the 
lash, clad in raiment of dark grayish color. So dreary, 
not even a blade of grass ; roads that looked broad, 
but when in them were nothing but paths running 
irregularly; wretched hovels about eight or ten feet 
high; they had no windows and quite a number had 
pickets, set close around them and extending two feet 



Experiences of the Author 183 

above the eaves. Doors all bolted and barred. The 
material of which these hovels were built was like 
adamant, of a dark grayish color. I was seized with 
fear and terror and ran around trying to hide myself. 
How I suffered! Finally I came to a hovel, the door 
of which was open. It was about nine feet high, and 
when I entered I found it had three rooms, the first 
about twelve by sixteen feet, nothing in it, and it 
looked as though it had just been vacated; the second 
room to the right was about eight by ten, and had a 
bench in it; the third room had nothing in it — and 
all looked very desolate, dreary and filthy. As I 
started from the door of the third room, intending 
to leave the hovel, having found no place to hide, a 
creature came in at the only opening, preventing my 
escape. It had the form of a man, but how hideous. 
The face was bloated and demoniac, eyes piercing 
and fierce, and was clothed in a dirty, dark grayish 
garment, and armed with a weapon like a javelin, 
about six feet long. He started towards me in the 
first and second position of charge bayonet. I just 
stood trembling with fear and terror, when some be- 
ing unseen by me placed in my left hand a weapon, 
and as I grasped it a sudden change of feeling came 
over me. Coolly and calmly, the fear having left me, 
I awaited his assault. I parried his thrust, and then 
thrust in quarte. A perfect sword of fire shot out 
of the weapon in my hand, just like a beautiful Da- 



184 What We Are and What We Will Be 

mascus blade, only straight. It pierced his left side 
and he fell. (I am a perfect left- and right-hand 
swordsman, having served in the cavalry in our Civil 
War, and made it a special study and practice.) Be- 
ing somewhat curious, I stepped over the creature 
and examined him. He was about five feet nine inches 
tall, very broad shouldered and muscular, of a dirty, 
grayish color, very loathsome and slimy. 

I went out of the hovel and ran, then drifted, with- 
out any motion on my part except to incline a little 
in the direction I was going, very rapidly, with a sen- 
sation similar to falling, but no unpleasantness about 
it. I really enjoyed it, like swinging under the old 
oak when a boy. Instead of traveling in a straight 
line, I seemed to be going in a half circle until I came 
to a straight road, and it was very straight. This 
road was like a pike in Old Virginia or Kentucky, 
only of beautiful prismatic rays, like when you look 
at an arc light about three hundred feet away, closing 
your eyes and then opening them just enough to catch 
the line of rays between the arc and your eyes — only 
the light and the colors were much more beautiful. 
The road that I came from into the straight road is 
a left-hand fork from the straight road, and it looked 
like a shady road to a cloudy valley, a pleasant place 
to rest in. 

I turned and looked up this beautiful, straight high- 
way, and saw in the distance a light ; it looked like 



Experiences of the Author 185 

an arc light, only larger and ethereal in a field of glory. 
I started towards it immediately, drifting the same as 
before. As I approached it, it increased in size and 
splendor, and at about one-half distance it looked like 
the sun rising in a fog, only a thousand times more 
beautiful. The surrounding country was like the sub- 
urbs to a large city, with trees, verdure and buildings. 
These were similar to, but more magnificent than, 
any on earth. 

When about one-eighth of a mile from the light, 
it was a, grand arch, with more beautiful colors than 
the rainbow — that is, the frame or outer edge; the 
center field was one grand, golden effulgency, like 
ethereal light through a pearl. The arch was at least 
five hundred feet high. I turned to the right at this 
point and entered a doorway, then immediately to 
the left and ascended a narrow stairway. After as- 
cending an immense height, when my head and shoul- 
ders were above the top of the stairs, I beheld an 
anteroom about thirty feet square. Three beauti- 
ful creatures approached me, coming from the direc- 
tion of a door on my right, and in front, that was 
ajar. There was a beautiful golden light in this apart- 
ment, soft and mellow. These lovely beings ap- 
proached me, one in advance, the other two just be- 
hind him, with their arms around each other, their 
hands clasped and looking lovingly and affectionately 
at me. At first I thought they were ladies, their faces 



186 What We Are and What We Will Be 

were so beautiful, so perfect and radiant, raiment of 
white, that folded like silk or satin, yet more like 
crepe or lace ; their large eyes so full of pure love and 
glory, forms so perfect, radiant and kingly. I stood 
in amazement, but filled with a peace and love that I 
had never known before. The one in advance, who 
was larger than the other two, extended his hands, 
palms downward, towards me. I, like a child, reached 
up and caught them, and a glory passed through me 
that will never leave me until I come through grace 
to those portals again. He raised me up on the floor 
they were standing on, and I felt perfectly at home, 
filled with joy and glory. They talked to me and I 
to them; they were so very kind and gentle and lov- 
ing, but I do not remember what was said. I looked 
at myself and found that I was clothed in a beautiful 
white raiment, with a tinge of gold. On my left is 
a door closed and barred. On my right a door ajar. 
I saw some souls and angels in there, and they seemed 
very happy. There was an arch in front of me about 
twelve feet high, four feet wide, with a golden damask 
curtain hanging over it. We passed through the arch, 
and, glory upon glory; the magnificent view that I 
beheld. We walked to the corner of the balcony. I 
could see the straight road I came on to this glory 
land, and after continuing through the arch or gate 
it became a street or avenue fully four hundred feet 
wide, and went straight on as far as I could see, and 



Experiences of the Author 187 

I was able to see much farther than I could with any 
telescope on earth. The country laid almost level, with 
a gentle rise in the distance, where it was still more 
glorious. 

On the left of this street is a grand park, with beau- 
tiful trees of perfect form and different colors and 
beautiful verdure. I saw a depression of the surface 
angling across this park and thought it was a river, by 
reason of three golden bridges of about four hundred 
feet span, one arch, no columns or supports. Not high, 
just enough above the level to be beautiful. I also saw 
an immense procession moving across this straight 
street, four blocks of mansions up, and crossing the 
first golden bridge. And reaching away up there where 
it was still more glorious and beautiful. On the right 
side of this straight street were mansions ; I could 
not see the roofs, just columns and balconies on front 
and sides to right and front. 

The angel took my hand in his left hand and we 
stepped off of the balcony, descended gently and eas- 
ily to the left side of the street close to the park. Oh, 
how magnificent, grand and beautiful it was ! Trees, 
every leaf on them so even and perfect, not one dead 
twig or leaf, colors so beautiful. There were small 
trees and shrubbery of perfect shape, with verdure; 
if grass, it was so lovely, like plush of the brightest 
green, with delicate little flowers amongst it, and large 
flowers, shady walks and all purity and beauty, not 



188 What We Are and What We Will Be 

even a soiled blade of grass. Spirits of just ones made 
perfect and angels were moving here and there, with 
such looks of love and welcome to each other, even 
to me, a stranger — so kingly and queenly in their 
movements, all joy, all purity, all happiness, all love. 
I noticed nothing but the beauties of this park and its 
lovely occupants, they were so fascinating to me, until 
we were crossing the third street up this straight 
street, when my attention was called to the proces- 
sion. We approached to within twenty feet of it. 
The horses were grand in form and perfect in grace 
and motion, with golden lace over a portion of the 
necks and shoulders, reaching back and attaching to 
the chariots, some of which have two wheels, and 
some have four wheels, with five spokes to each wheel, 
some golden and some other colors, and spokes were 
larger at the fellow than at the hub. There were 
also spirits of just ones made perfect, men and women, 
walking on each side of the chariots, eight and twelve 
abreast, playing on different kinds of instruments 
and singing a glorious song — such beautiful music. 
I tried to understand it. They were all clothed in 
raiment, white, or white with a golden tinge ; and 
there were some angels amongst them. 

It is so difficult to tell an angel from a living soul, 
especially when the spirit made perfect is clothed with 
those beautiful white raiments and their faces are 
turned away from you. Up there the living soul has 



Experiences of the Author 189 

the same dear features it had on earth, only glorified 
and radiant, also that heavenly love pouring from 
their eyes ; while the angel's face is chiseled so perfect, 
so beautiful, radiant, with eyes so large and power- 
ful, full to overflowing with such divine love. Their 
movements were so grand, not fast nor slow, just 
perfect, kingly, queenly, graceful and elegant. 

My attention was now called to a four-wheeled 
chariot drawn by a span of beautiful bay horses. The 
frame was something like a large platter or shell of 
a lovely golden color, with seats all around inside, 
and filled with little children, also three living souls 
or angels, one in front, the other two sitting in the 
rear. When they were nearly opposite me, two little 
boys turned around. They were sitting on the side 
nearest to me, waving their little hands and calling. 
Evidently they knew me. They were my two boys. 
I had buried their carnal bodies in Kansas twenty 
years before. I could not hear what they said, by 
reason of the immense volume of music. Their faces 
were plump, joyous and radiant, and eyes so filled 
with love and glory. I would not bring them back 
if I could. 

We now turned round and went back to the third 
street, crossing the straight street, and went down 
the right side of this third street, from the arch or 
gate. When we turned around my attention was 
called to the mansions. They were very high, col- 



190 What We Are and What We Will Be 

umn and balcony, column and balcony, alternately, one 
above the other, about four hundred feet front, each 
one of them pure, precious stone, smooth and pol- 
ished, white columns and white steps, each mansion 
its own individual color. Looking along the fronts 
the colors blend more beautiful than a rainbow, and 
each one is of a different style, I should say inclined 
towards Jewish architecture. 

After passing down the right side of the third street 
about five blocks or mansions, my attention was called 
to a mansion of a reddish color with a purple tinge. 
The entrance was about fifteen feet high and ten feet 
broad, white columns on each side of the entrance, 
with a half circle of white marble over the top, and 
pure, beautiful, white steps extended out to the street, 
five or six in number. When about forty feet from 
the steps I saw a woman dressed in dark, just as I 
had often seen her here on earth, in the act of going 
up into the mansion. She halted with her right foot 
on the second step, and her left foot on the third. 
When within twenty feet of her I called. She turned 
around and ran towards me with her arms extended, 
shouting loud and clear, "Home at last!" I met her 
with outstretched arms, took her in my arms and 
pressed her to my bosom. Her raiment was fine and 
beautiful, her form perfect, and I could feel her just 
as well as when on earth. I kissed her and she kissed 
me. Oh, the reality and purity of life in that land of 



Experiences of the Author 191 

love, ever blessed land! It was my wife that had 
passed over from this earth over thirty years before 
in New York City. Just as young, but more lovely 
and radiant, her eyes so filled with love and joy. 
We stood with our arms around each other and talked 
on different things. At last I said that I would like 
to settle up my Virginia estate. Instantly she stepped 
back, with eyes so filled with heavenly love and satis- 
faction, but as her glance passed down towards my 
knees, I saw sadness in her face. I looked down and 
saw that I was clothed in the same white raiment 
which I had on in the anteroom, with a tinge of gold 
in the color, with which I had seen so many other 
spirits of just ones made perfect, clad in this land of 
glory, very fine and beautiful. While all theirs were 
clean and perfect, mine, I now perceived, had spots 
on it like grease spots ; my left limb was to the front 
and over the knee was a spot as large as my hand. 
I reached forward and caught her in my arms again 
and kissed her, but it was like kissing a corpse. The 
angel left me here ; at least I did not see him any 
more. 

My wife took my left hand in her right and we 
ascended in the mansion. I saw a lovely hall and 
entrance, with columns all round, and golden damask 
hanging from ceiling to floor. We ascended a grand, 
massive stairway, which wound round most artistic- 
ally, and at each turn there were four arches, with 



192 What We Are and What We Will Be 

damask hanging over them. There were no doors in 
this city, at least I saw none after leaving the ante- 
room. After ascending to an immense height we 
turned to the left into an apartment, and my wife left 
me here, at least I did not see her any more. The 
apartment was about twenty feet square and twenty 
feet high. Everything was equal and beautiful, so 
pure and clean. I advanced about six feet and halted 
in amazement. The side from which I had entered 
was of solid golden damask, spotted and flecked with 
bronze from floor to ceiling, except where I entered, 
which was like the opening to a tent. There was a 
column on each corner and one in the center at each 
side. On my left was solid damask from floor to ceil- 
ing, the same in front, while on the right the damask 
was caught back like curtains in a window, showing 
at least one-third open view. There were six spirits 
of just ones made perfect in this apartment, but the 
glorious view claimed my attention first. 

I could see many miles of beautiful mansions, higher 
at hand than in the distance, where they were more 
like elegant suburban residences in our large cities on 
earth, with magnificent trees and verdure all around 
them; that ethereal light, and lovely mansions of all 
shapes and colors, so much more beautiful than here 
on earth. I should say there were millions of them. 
I looked around the apartment and the first living soul 
I noticed was a lady with light hair, large, blue eyes, 



Experiences of the Author 193 

light complexion sitting on a soft, or something like 
one, near the balcony. She looked at me with a wel- 
come look, full of love, as though she knew me. Her 
face looked familiar, but I did not know her. The 
one that sat next to her on this beautiful sofa was my 
aunt, Ann McDonald. (My mother passed over from 
this world when I was nine weeks old.) This aunt 
nursed me when a baby, cared for me in youth, lived 
with me in Chicago and passed over about nine years 
before that time. She left this earth at the age of 
seventy-two ; her hair was streaked with gray, her 
cheeks were wrinkled, her eyes sunken, but up there 
her face was radiant, full and plump, and her eyes 
were filled with love and joy. The streaks of gray 
looked so beautiful in her hair, and it was combed just 
as she used to comb it here on earth. She did not seem 
to see me. Standing in front of Aunt Ann, and facing 
her, was one that I would have known by her voice 
had I not seen her face and form. They were singing 
the same song that those in the procession were sing- 
ing. I tried again to understand it, but could not 
catch the words nor tune ; if I did, I have not remem- 
bered them. This woman was my oldest sister. She 
was the wife of John V. Ham, crown officer at Whitby, 
Ontario, and was a great church singer. Oh, Alary, 
you are happier there ! Her voice rang out clearer, 
sweeter and more beautiful than when on earth. 
Neither did she seem to see me. Next to Alary and 

13 



194 What We Are and What We Will Be 

nearer to me, and facing the light-haired woman, was 
a small woman, slim, and of perfect form, like a girl, 
with very luxuriant dark hair, which hung down her 
back loosely and very long, large blue eyes with a 
tinge of gray, regular features, fair complexion and 
not more than five feet, one or two inches. She looked 
very much like my Aunt Crosby, of Whitby, Ontario, 
but more beautiful. I knew it was my mother. You 
ask me how I knew her, and can only answer that 
I do not know, unless in that future land we know 
as we are known, though sometimes it seems to me 
a voice said, "Your mother." How I do love her since 
I saw her there ! She did not seem to see me. To 
the left and in front of me stood a grand old man with 
gray hair combed straight back, about five feet, nine 
inches tall, broad shoulders, Roman nose, exceedingly 
heavy eyebrows, long whiskers and large blue eyes, 
such a beautiful pure blue, and so filled with love. He 
had such a commanding look as he stood with his 
arms folded across his breast. A voice said, "Your 
grandfather. I knew it was William Jenkins, a noted 
Presbyterian minister of Ontario, who passed over 
long before I was born. Neither did he seem to see 
me. (Of these last two there are no pictures nor any- 
thing by which I could have known them, yet my un- 
cle, William Jenkins, states that I could not have given 
a better description of them had I seen them on 
earth, and he knows that I could not have seen my 



Experiences of the Author 195 

grandfather, nor could I have remembered my 
little mother.) 

Now, all the living souls in this apartment so far 
described were dressed in those fine, white raiments, 
white with a tinge of gold, which fitted their forms 
perfectly; except one, who stood directly in front of 
me and facing me, not over six feet distance. It was 
my own father, whom I knew well. He was clothed 
in the full suit of a Presbyterian minister, even to 
the white necktie. It seemed hard for him to see me at 
first; then a glance of joy sprang from his radiant 
face and lovelit eyes, as he saw my head and shoul- 
ders, but as his glance passed downward on my form 
a sad and disappointed look came into his eyes, and 
his voice so sad and mournful said, "My son here 
with soiled garments ?" I now looked at myself again, 
the left limb to the front. I was clothed with the same 
raiment, and with the same spots on them, as I had 
on when talking to my wife in front of the glorious 
and grand mansion. I felt as though condemnation 
rested upon me, for those spots on my raiment were 
the only evidence of impurity that I had seen in that 
land. of purity and love. I looked at the opening on 
my right, looking over the heavenly city again, then 
turned and looked at my father. He stood with his 
hands clasped and eyes turned upward, as in supplica- 
tion, and I felt myself borne away. The first I knew I 
was in the shell we call body, and it was cold and stiff 



196 What We Are and What We Will Be 

for some time and I could not move at all. I heard 
the mosquitoes humming around me thick but none 
bit me. A clammy, cold perspiration was all over me. 
The first movement I can remember was with the first 
and second fingers of my right hand, and I was then 
singing, "Glory to the Father, Son and the Holy 
Ghost." 

Now, let me speak of the light up there. It was a 
golden effulgency, and was just as light in the stair- 
way and apartments as in the park, street or balcony, 
and there was no sun, moon or stars. It seemed to 
be food and drink, and filled me with such supreme 
joy and glory. Oh, how I long to go there again ! It 
was just breaking day when I became conscious of 
being in my earthly tabernacle. In one hour I was 
almost as well as ever, physically, and glory filled 
my spirit, soul and shell, and has to this day, when- 
ever I think of it. I am a changed man in many ways, 
and how I adore our heavenly Father, His Son, Jesus, 
and the Holy Spirit. Never go I to sleep without say- 
ing, "Jesus, Master, Friend and Elder Brother, I am 
thine, — spirit, soul and body, thine — to do Thy will 
as Thou wilt; but I pray Thee, through grace, bring 
thy servant soon to that land of glory, purity and love, 
again, to home, and home to stay." And I often say 
this each day as I pass along through this valley and 
long to be with those that have passed over in Jesus' 



Experiences of the Author 197 

love. Our home, if born again ; our Master's king- 
dom. I was there and I know it. 

The Approval of These Experiences by One of 

the Greatest, if not the Greatest, Doctor, 

Traveler, Investigator and Writer of 

the Age, and an Author of 

Many Books. 

Battle Creek, Mich., May n, 1903. 
Donald W. McDonald, South Jacksonville, Fla. 

My Dear Brother: Your letter with the enclosed 
psychical experiences reached me by due course of 
mail. I read your experience with a very great de- 
gree of pleasure, and I trust, spiritual profit. They 
temporarily lifted me above the world's confusion and 
competition onto higher and purer planes of life. 
Your experience in leaving your body and traveling 
in the heavenly spheres are very much like some of 
Dr. Duns' experience. He was a medium, or psychic, 
living with me much of the time for fourteen years. 
He would frequently, after retiring at night, become 
at first spasmodic, then almost rigid, his pulse beating 
very faintly and heart, also, and his body would re- 
main in this state for sometimes a full hour. It fright- 
ened me at first, but soon became a common thing. 
When out of his body he traveled in different spheres, 
some higher and some lower, and would describe to 
me what he saw. I remember of his traveling in one 
of the heavenly spheres or zones, so ethereal that even 
the flowers and the plants seemed to be translucent, 
and they would seemingly bow to him as he passed 
by them. They were flowers that he had never seen 
on earth. All of these experiences go to demonstrate 
the great truth of the soul's immortality, and the ne- 
cessity of living the upright, conscientious, Christlike 
life in order to attain the altitude of peace in the 



198 What We Are and What We Will Be 

promised kingdom of glory. I am pleased that you 
are delighted with my articles in the Magazine of 
Mysteries. I write for that, for the Banner of Light, 
Progressive Thinker, and Arena, of Uew York, etc. 
I am in my eighty-second year, and am yet working 
as earnestly as ever to benefit my brother-man. I am 
a vegetarian, avoiding also tobacco, liquors of all 
kinds, and am in favor of peace and arbitration of 
war. I earnestly hope that you will publish these 
experiences of yours in pamphlet form. They are not 
only valuable in themselves, but they will help to en- 
lighten those of the old orthodox school who have 
believed many erroneous and soul-chilling doctrines. 
I take pleasure to-day of sending you two or three of 
my lectures, which may interest you. Hope that I 
may some time meet you in the flesh. 
I remain sincerely and cordially yours, 

J. M. Peebles. 

P.S. — Should you have any further experiences, be- 
fore publishing them, please let me see them. 37 Beach 
Street, Battle Creek, Mich. 

I have had the pleasure of meeting Brother Peebles 
this spring in Tampa, where I reside, and we had a very 
social visit. He is now about eighty-seven years old, 
lively and happy, full of the spirit, and working hard 
as ever, and I recognize in him a brother in Christ, 
and as we said when clasping hands during our fare- 
well, "We know we will meet in that land of glory, 

if not again in this valley." 

D. W. McDonald. 



Experiences of the Author 199 

IN MY HOME. 

My spirit hath passed thro' that gateway of gems 

And a heavenly city hath seen; 
And tho' it returned to this vale of glens 

An unsatisfied being on earth, 
Yea, I know when I was in that glory land 

That I was in my home after birth. 

Yea, I am soon to go home to that glory land, 

My dear ones are waiting for me ; 
A joyful farewell to this dreary strand 

When the gates again I shall see. 
Yea, forever adore Thee, Triune Jehovah, 

Yea, glory! all glory! to Thee. 



REVIEW OF PART OF THE EVI- 
DENCE 



Mrs. Geo. Bradshaw sees that land of glory and is 
not allowed to tell what she saw. 

Dr. Danby, one of the leading ministers of the 
Southern Presbyterian Church, hears beautiful music. 
Of this he is certain, and not of this world. And as 
others have heard the music of the heavenly choirs, 
why not he? 

The lady in Texas certainly did hear that heavenly 
music. 

A little child in passing out recognizes her mother 
that had passed over prior, calling her, "Mamma, 
mamma." 

Gen. Stonewall Jackson sees that land of love. 

Jessie L. Latham, an old veteran, sees his mother 
and daughter, Ruby, for one whole week before pass- 
ing out, also his home in that land of love. 

Mr. John Smith, of Macon, Ga., for two days be- 
fore passing out sees his children, talks with them, 
recognizes them, as individualities, and calls them by 
name; also states that they are waiting for him. 

Lieutenant Gay sees and talks to his mother, who 



Review of Part of the Evidence 201 

had passed over fourteen years prior, and tries to 
show her to others in the flesh ; also states the room 
is full of angels. 

W. W. Siker, Brookville, Miss., sees his three chil- 
dren, Willie, Johnnie and Elizabeth, calls them by 
name and recognizes them as his that had passed over. 

Mrs. Heisen, of Aberdeen, Miss., recognizes her 
friend, Miss Lucy Jones, who had passed over pre- 
viously ; talks to her and asks her to "Take my hand, 
Lucy," and passes over. 

Miss Emma Fisher, before departing this life, and 
she only ten years old, sees and recognizes her father 
who had passed over four years prior ; states, "Mother, 
father is standing by you. He has come for me. I am 
going with him." Passes out singing a hymn. A 
month after her mother hears her singing at her side, 
"Sweet By and By." 

Miss Mary Adell, of Biloxi, Miss., one day prior 
to passing over recognizes her brother John, and 
while holding the hand of this brother John, that had 
gone on before, she tries to have her mother see him ; 
then in passing out has a view of that glory land. 

Mrs. Geo. S. Brown, of East Rome, Ga., one day 
before passing over sees and recognizes her friend, 
Mrs. Kline, who had passed over fourteen years prior. 

Miss Kittie Brown, of Montgomery, Ala., only 
eighteen months old, recognizes her grandfather, who 
had passed over nine years and six months before she 



202 What We Are and What We Will Be 

was born; also her sister Lees, who had passed over 
when she was six months old; and while bidding her 
mother and father good-by, called out, "Sister Lees, 
Grandpa, wait; Katy Brown is coming," and passed 
over. 

Americus, Ga., Master Jack Cleghorn, four years 
and two months old, recognizes and calls his brother, 
who had passed over ten years prior, saying, "Wait 
for me, little brother. I hear the bells ringing. Good- 
by, mamma." 

On the 25th of March, 1905, Augusta, Ga., Miss 
Kittie Mays, twenty-three years old, saw and recog- 
nized her mother, that had passed over two years 
prior, and her sister, who had passed over sixteen 
years prior ; 'said they were bidding her to come home 
with them, saying to the others in the room, "Don't 
you see them? They are waiting for me." 

Chattanooga, Tenn., November 21, 1905, Mrs. John 
Trout, who had nearly passed over, but who is living 
now, in fair health, states that she saw her mother, 
who had passed over ten years prior. "I knew her; 
she was just my own mother, only beautified. She 
talked with me; I could hear her and understand her 
perfectly. She talked kindly and gave me great com- 
fort. I know it was my mother." 

Orlando, Fla., November 27, 1907, Mr. John Mc- 
Bride recognizes his mother and his four children. 



Review of Part of the Evidence 203 

All had passed over prior. They were just his mother 
and children. 

Memphis, Tenn., May 13, 1905. Mrs. Susan Mc- 
Lean, eighty-four years of age, before passing over 
one day continually saw her husband, Dr. McLean, 
and her father and mother and children ; also states 
that the angels talked to her. Indeed, she was tired 
shaking hands with so many that came to escort her 
home. 

Vicksburg, Miss., March, 1907. Mrs. Mary Moses, 
while resting in her son's arms just before passing 
over, tries to show him a man in white that is waiting 
for her. Her son, Morris M. Moses, feels his presence. 

Mobile, Ala., 1890. Miss Catharine McConnell 
Gordon said in passing over, "I hear the angels sing- 
ing. Oh, how beautiful they sing." 

Elder John Gilliard, Claiborne Ave., Mobile, Ala., 
said to his wife's sister, "How beautiful the day; not 
the day here. I have glimpses of the new Jerusalem. 
I bid you good-by. My Savior has come for me," and 
passed out. 

Mrs. L. McConnell, Atlanta, Ga., sees her brother- 
in-law before passing out, that had passed over, and 
describes him to her sister. Also saw her mother and 
states that she sees them just as clear as those in the 
flesh. 

Selma, Ala., in February, 1902, Mrs. Marie Louis 
Rosser states that she had seen her loved ones in No- 



204 What We Are and What We Will Be 

vember. While passing out said, "I see my husband," 
calling him by name. "Now I am going to that happy 
land. Tommy is here to go with me." 

Rev. Pilmer C. Archer, of Chesterfield Court House, 
Va., was holding a revival fifteen miles from Rich- 
mond, Va. In the midst of his sermon sees his sister 
and hears her that had just passed over ; looks at his 
watch and it was 12.3Q a.m., and said to the congre- 
gation, "I hear my sister calling me. I must go." She 
did pass out about that time. 

In 1903, T. G. Ezell, at Pickensville, Ala., aged 
eighty-four, before passing out said, "Why, here is 
my brother ; I have not seen him in fifty- four years." 
Also recognized and talked to his wife that had passed 
over eight years prior ; said he was in better company 
than those in the flesh. 

San Antonio, Texas, May 23, 1891. Miss Mamie 
McGill, one day before passing out, sees the street of 
New Jerusalem, also the flowers. 

Mrs. H. T. Norment, Orlando, Fla., in August, 
1890: "I saw my baby boy that passed over three 
months prior; felt his presence and looking up saw 
him. Just the same features, beautified. He smiled 
to me and I felt a satisfied feeling." 

Memphis, Tenn., June 19, 1907. Mrs. W. D. Har- 
ris states Stanley Johnson Morris, aged seven months, 
passed over May 19, 1901 ; sees her baby twice, and 
he said clearly and distinctly, "God loves mamma." 



Review of Part of the Evidence 205 

"I felt distinctly the impression of his body on my 
arm, and at another time he was near me and con- 
soled me." 

864 Raiborne Avenue, Memphis, Tenn. Mrs. Mary 
Cummings says her son, Logan Cummings, passed 
over. Born in 1874, aged thirty-seven years, passed 
over March 26, 1901. "Seven weeks after his pass- 
ing over, I was lying on a couch in broad daylight, 
about 12 m. Saw my son come in through the east 
window and pass through the room. He recognized 
me and I saw him distinctly. 

Statement of Mrs. Cummings : Her husband, Mr. 
Holmes Cummings, passed over October 25, 1896. 
"About two years after I saw him clearly and dis- 
tinctly standing at the foot of my bed. It was about 
4 a.m. when I saw him. I was impressed by him that 
he was my guardian spirit. I was fully awake and 
saw him clearly." 

Miss Guerry Evenson Guerry, East Macon, Ga., 
passed over April 1, 1906; saw her mother, who had 
passed over twenty years before, in broad daylight. 
This was ten days before she passed over, when in 
good health. 

Mrs. Mary J. Whitner, of Stanford, Fla., saw her 
brother that had passed over in South Carolina, and 
he told her had passed over, in broad daylight, in the 
presence of her family; and he had passed over at 
just about that time. 



206 What We Are and What We Will Be 

Brooksville, Miss., 1906. Mrs. A. K. Marshall sees 
on February 4, 1878, her husband's first wife, that 
pushes her away from her husband. 

Dalton, Ga., July 25, 1906. May 8, 1906, Mrs. 
Cornelia Lowery, while passing out, was in a disso- 
ciated state about fifteen minutes. She revived and 
said, "I have come back to bid you good-by. The old 
and the young are over there, same as here. I heard 
them singing and the angels singing, and Anna is the 
sweetest; singer of them all." Anna was her younger 
sister, who had passed over at the age of eighteen 
months, sixteen years prior. Then welcomed the an- 
gels that were there to take her home. 

Rev. E. H. Bennett, D.D., pastor in Atlanta, Ga., 
in passing over, said to his wife Carrie, 'There are 
no valleys nor shadows ; it is all sunshine." 

Tampa, Fla., November 6, 1907. Mrs. Mary A. 
Blowers, aged seventy, passed over the 25th of Octo- 
ber, 1902 ; was wide awake, saw her husband, War- 
ren N. Blowers, who had passed over seven years 
before. He came to her and took her to that happy 
land. She heard the lovely music, and also took her 
to bathe in a beautiful spring. 

Dwight L. Moody sayed that he is "going up higher 
into a house that is immortal, into a body that death 
cannot touch and sin cannot taint, a body fashioned 
like His glorious body.' Earth is receding, heaven is 
approaching. God's holy angels are calling me. If 



Review of Part of the Evidence 207 

this is death there is no valley. This is glorious ! I 
have been within the gates ; I have seen the children 
Erene and Dwight." These were his grandchildren 
that had previously passed over." 

Prof. A. M. C. Brasch, of Jacksonville, Fla., says 
he saw his carnal body a separate body from his true 
self. 

Mrs. Ella Brasch, Jacksonville, Fla., says she was 
separated from her carnal body, and her spiritual body 
was along that great highway to the eternal land, and 
she saw the gates ajar, and the spirit that was with 
her told her she must return to the earth. 

Louis Stevens, of Jacksonville, Fla., states that he 
was absent from his earthly body, recognized himself, 
his true body separated from his earthly body, and 
went two hundred miles west of Jacksonville to his 
old home; saw his brother John in the flesh and out 
of the flesh; knows that his brother John had two 
bodies, a carnal body and spiritual body; saw his 
brother John's wife and baby in the flesh, and also 
the doctor and his nephew John in the flesh ; and saw 
his brother John's first wife that had passed over 
twenty years prior ; also his niece that had passed 
over ten years before and an angel of the Lord, talked 
with him; also noticed that his brother John had 
passed out at 2.30, which did occur, while his carnal 
body laid in the hospital at Jacksonville. 



208 What We Are and What We Will Be 

Bede, who passed over in 735, saw the angels com- 
ing for him and heard the heavenly music. 

St. Anthony: " I have been surrounded by a band 
of good angels and spirits and joyfully joined in sing- 
ing with them." 

Tertullian tells us there is a sister among them who 
in ecstasy sees souls and they were in bodily shape, 
were not naked spirits. It appeared to be a spirit, 
neither entity nor formless, but so substantial that it 
might be touched. Tender and shining, color like air 
and in everything resembled the human form. 

Ingratus tells us some of the church have divine 
knowledge of things to come, some have visions, some 
heal the sick by laying on of hands, others bring to 
light the soul of man and angels, and expounded the 
mysteries of God. 

Emanuel Swedenborg: "I have," says he, "for 
these twenty years or more conversed daily with spir- 
its and angels. They have human form, the appear- 
ance of men, and I have a thousand times seen them, 
for I have spoken with them as man to man with 
other men, often with several together." 

Dr. Adam Clark: "I believe that there is a super- 
natural or spiritual world in which human spirits, both 
good and bad, live in a state of conscientiousness. I 
believe that any of these spirits may, according to the 
order of God in the law of their place of residence, 



Review of Part of the Evidence 209 

have intercourse with this world and become visible 
to mortals." 

Harriet Beecher Stowe : She believes in the union 
of the two worlds — natural and spiritual — and that 
our fathers believed what they said, but we don't. 

Rev. H. L. Austin, M.A., LL.D., Canada: "I have 
seen again and again these phenomena produced, hear 
voices from the angel world, caught their living words 
of instructions, and inspiration fresh from angelic lips ; 
seen their forms materialize and de-materialize like a 
cloud vanishing from sight, and held them by the 
hands." 

There is no death. An angel form 
Walks o'er the earth with silent tread ; 

He bears our best loved things away, 
And then we call them dead. 

— E. Bukver Lytton. 

There is no death. What seems so is transition, 

This life of mortal breath 
Is but a suburb of life Elysian, 

Whose portals we call death. 

— Longfellow. 

Rev. Lyman Abbott: "Our dear ones are close by 
us. A spiritual world surrounds us. They know us. 
We are separated from it only by our dullness, and I 
wonder why many, many of the followers of Christ 
haven't known a like communion of the saints and 
risen dead." 

Sir Oliver Lodge, F.R.S., Dr., E.S., LL.B., profes- 

14 



210 What We Are and What We Will Be 

sor of Bingham, England, says, "It is our privilege 
through faithful service to enter unto the life eternal 
and the communion of saints and the peace of God/' 

Dr. J. M. Peebles, M.D., M.A., Ph.D., Battle Creek, 
Mich., says he personally knows that the dead are 
alive, knows that friends departed live and manifest 
to us all that the angels of God are about us and ad- 
minister to us. 

Capt. Chas. F. P. Chase states that he was 
wounded and his carnal body lay for two days on the 
battlefield of Gettysburg as dead and that he saw it 
as it lay on the ground, the wounds on his body and 
clothing torn, and his true self, the spirit, floated above 
it and observed it. He was also in the suburbs of 
heaven, heard lovely music, only separated as by a 
mist, and saw many inhabitants of that lovely land, 
but none that he knew, and they all seemed to know 
each other as one great family. 

Here we have an officer of the English army that 
through the effect of gas experienced dissociation, 
sees his body on the bed, sees his spirit a separate 
body, in the spirit reads a book, goes through a wall, 
sees a comrade drawing charts, tries to make himself 
known, looked down the street, goes to the railway 
yard to a tunnel that he had never seen before or 
heard of, and like many others in this world he still 
doesn't believe in a continuance of life. 

A lady experiences a separation of the spiritual body 



Review of Part of the Evidence 211 

from the carnal body, sees her true self, tries to pick 
up instruments, and knows that she has two bodies, 
one a spiritual, one a carnal. 

Paris, France. Camille Flammarion pays positive 
observation ; proves the existence of psychic world 
as real as the one we inhabit, and is known to our 
physical senses. We live in the midst of an invisible 
world. 

Sir Walter Crooks, England, says he has touched, 
photographed and even kissed materialized bodies of 
spirits. 

William T. Stead, founder and editor of the Revieiv 
of Reviews, of London, England, states he has not 
only had communication from the dead, but to have 
fully written down the thoughts of living men miles 
away. 

Mrs. Titus, of Lebanon, N. H., leaves her carnal 
body and finds Miss Berta Huse's body in fifteen feet 
of water, all covered by brush and drift except the 
foot, where it was so dark that a diver could not see 
her down in the water fifteen feet deep. 

A spirit warns and guides Horace J. Seaver, engi- 
neer of the Illinois Central Railway, and saves the 
lives of a thousand veterans. 



212 What We Are and What We Will Be 

Some of the Spiritual Experiences of the 
Author. 

Given by the Master to Qualify Him to Write this 
Volume. 

Fortelling the destruction of Jacksonville six months 
prior. j 

Appearing to C. W. Rush, in Dunnellton, Fla., in 
the spirit. A case of dissociation. 

A vision of the spirit upon me. Foretells no gen- 
eral freeze in Florida for twelve years from Novem- 
ber 8, 1899. 

First dissociation, visits a river of that land of love 
and light ; sees his wife and hears her distinctly. 

Third dissociation or separation of the living soul 
from his carnal body; visits the land of darkness, 
also the land of love and glory ; sees and knows his 
grandfather, wife, father, mother, sisters and children 
and aunt. 

Basis of Proof. 

A basis of the Psychical Research Society : When a 
large number of facts are satisfactorily established all 
or most ot them can be most easily explained in the 
light of some particular theory, that theory is re- 
garded as scientifically established. We have another 
rule, and in all general courts it takes only two or 
three witnesses to establish a fact. And these are only 
a few of the witnesses. I have no doubt that if time 
and space were allowed, one million could easily be 
obtained. Therefore we have, without a doubt, proved 
the identity, individuality and by continuance of life, 
immortality. 



CONCLUSION 



First, we prove that we are composed of spirit, 
first principle, a portion of our heavenly Father, in- 
distructible, therefore, eternal. Second, soul, also a 
portion of our celestial body. Soul can be and is de- 
stroyed by sin. Third, carnal body, or earthly body, 
or shell, or tent, or tabernacle of our true body. The 
living soul. Therefore we are a spirit with a soul 
body enclosed in an earthly body. These are the triune 
parts of man. 

Again, first, as the spirit of man is indestructible, 
in joy, or woe, it ever lives. Second, that which is 
wrongfully called death, is an incident, in a continued 
life, a life in a land of darkness, or death, Satan's 
kingdom, or a life in a land of joy and glory, our 
Master's kingdom. Third, that the land of darkness 
exists, as well as the land of life and glory. Fourth, 
that spirit birth is just transition to a higher and more 
glorious state of life, through our Lord, and should 
not be dreaded. 

We have introduced in this volume five hundred and 
ninety witnesses and over, who have seen and recog- 
nized the living souls. This is the true bodies of in- 
habitants of this earth after they have passed over. 



214 What We Are and What We Will Be 

Five hundred and forty witnesses and over who have 
seen living souls in broad daylight and were fully 
awake and fully reognized them, identified them and 
individualized them. Ninety and over, all of whom 
have witnessed of the spiritual world and continuance 
of life after birth, which some call death. Thirty wit- 
nesses and over not only see living souls, recognize 
them absent from the earthly body, but also handle 
them and know that they were or had been inhabitants 
of this earth. Fifteen witnesses and over that state 
they have been absent from the carnal body and in the 
eternal body, saw themselves and saw their carnal 
bodies and know that their living soul is their true 
selves. Most of them have recognized all their sur- 
roundings on earth as well as their surroundings in 
that land of love, have been returned to the carnal 
body and are living witnesses of dissociation and of 
the land of love and of the elements of man. 

If life is continued after birth (which some call 
death), and they continue the same and do not age, 
then is immortality established. The witnesses of this 
day and century make statement of seeing their dear 
ones that have passed over from two weeks to seventy 
years, and all agree that they were the same, only 
beautified. I know by what I saw that my grand- 
father and mother were just as young by my uncle 
and aunt's letters. I know that my father and Aunt 
Ann and my sister and wife looked younger, beauti- 



Conclusion 215 

fied and lovely. My children looked just as young, but 
a little larger, but glorified. Paul, in I Corinthians, 
fifteenth chapter, says that Jesus was seen by five 
hundred persons besides his apostles during the forty 
days that he visited this earth, and afterwards by him 
as one born out of due season. Pilate in his letters 
corroborates this statement when writing to Caesar, 
and also states, "I and my wife also saw him." 

The two sons of Simon, the high priest, that took 
Jesus in his arms and blessed him, who were amongst 
those of the first resurrection, state that Jesus took 
Adam, carnal father of us all, by the hand and led him 
to that land of glory, His kingdom. This was about 
four thousand years, at least, after he, Adam, had 
passed over; and if the same change took place, 
which no doubt did, he was then and there beautified, 
almost if not altogether the same as he was, minus 
his earthly body, as when the angels drove him from 
paradise. At least we have evidence that he was alive 
three thousand seven hundred and seventy years after 
he passed over ; Abraham about eighteen hundred and 
sixty years ; Job about fifteen hundred and twenty- 
three years ; David about one thousand years. Moses 
appeared fourteen hundred and sixty years after he 
passed over, when he appeared with Elijah on the 
mount. By the apostles Peter, James and John's 
statement, he was beautified with just such a body as 
so many have seen their dear ones clothed in, and rai- 



216 What We Are and What We Will Be 

ments just the same. Why not? He was just a man, 
redeemed, beautified and glorified by the love of our 
dear heavenly Father and His only Son Jesus. And 
by the reports of the apostles, he was very much alive, 
talked, was seen and known in broad daylight, and 
understood. 

Until about thirty-five years ago, man was search- 
ing astrology, astronomy, geology, in fact, everything 
except man, to ascertain what man was. 

In 1882 there was organized in England a Society 
of Psychical Research, by Prof. Henry Sidwick, Bal- 
four Stewart, W. F. Barrett, also Gladstone — the 
statesman of the world — was allied with them and 
others. 

In America, in 1885, Profs. William James, S. P. 
Langley, Rev. Herbert Newton and others, organized 
the American branch. They said there were rumors 
and statements regarding the soul of man ever since 
his creation. Are they false? Are they true? Let us 
investigate man. They have accepted nothing but the 
truth, testing and proving all things, and what they 
and their friends have discovered has surprised them, 
as well as the world at large. They have found a great 
deal more was true than was stated, and many of 
them have come to the conclusion that the spirit is an 
individual entity, immortal, and that heaven is its 
home; that this world is only a workshop, as it were, 
where spirits are made and some perfected, and that 



Conclusion 217 

when released from this shell that we call body, as a 
caterpillar changes from a creeping insect to a citizen 
of the air — a butterfly — so when we pass over we be- 
come citizens of the universe. 

The question is often asked, ''Where is the land of 
glory?" With Young, and many of our scientific men, 
also many divines, and by reason of the light and 
glorious scenes beheld by those passing over, includ- 
ing reports of those that have been here in the living 
soul, and my own biblical and scientific knowledge, as 
well as experience, I would say that it enfolds this 
earth of ours, above our gross atmosphere and through 
the same, and often passes close to us, or we through 
it. In other words, it enfolds this sphere without a 
vacuum, as there is none in space. The land of dark- 
ness, as the ancients thought and believed, is in the 
inside of this world of ours. These latter facts I 
hope to see soon established. The reports of those 
that have been there in the living soul, do not differ 
any more in proportion to the size of the land visited 
than did Columbus, Americus and Cabot differ in re- 
gard to this continent, North and South America, 
when it was first discovered. They have simply landed 
in different parts of an immense spiritual inorganic 
world, and always agree to the general principles and 
descriptions. 

Well, indeed, did Joel prophesy six hundred years 
before Jesus, that the wonders in heaven shall be 



218 What We Are and What We Will Be 

shown. Joel 2 : 30 : "I will show wonders in the 
heavens." Jesus says, Luke 21 : 11 : "And great signs 
from heaven," and Acts 2:17: Peter in that great 
sermon of sermons, when three thousand were be- 
gotten of the spirit, says, "I will pour forth my spirit 
and they shall prophesy, and I will show wonders in 
the heavens above." That is what became more 
prominent since the birth of Jesus, and will be contin- 
ued until the end of the world, and was to be espe- 
cially strong in the last days as was prophesied, is 
and shall be. We positively prove one million to a 
cipher, that you are a spirit in the flesh going on to 
eternity. You may dodge taxes, but never transition. 
It may come to-night, may be to-morrow, but certain 
soon you must pass over. Only a few years at the 
most, saved or lost, you still live. Why not give a lit- 
tle time to the clothing of your spirit? Your soul is 
all and all to you; lost, you are lost; saved, you are 
saved ; unless you call on the Lord, then only a tramp, 
a naked spirit, no soul to speak of, which shall it be? 
Some will say, "Why, this is a new doctrine." You err, 
my dear one. It is the doctrine that Jehovah pro- 
claimed, that Jesus by Moses and Elijah illustrated 
through the powers of the blessed trinity ; the doctrine 
of Job and the ancients, the prophets and Jesus, Son 
of our heavenly Father by birthright, the apostles and 
early fathers, that nearly all the religions have been 
founded upon. Doctrine of our fathers. Doctrine that 



Conclusion 219 

Satan and all his powers have hurled their force 
against since man's creation. The only time they 
came near crushing it out, was during the dark ages. 
Doctrine of the divine old Bible, it is eternal, it is 
true; but I am sorry to say that many of those that 
claim to be followers of Jesus still adhere to the the- 
ology of the dark ages. Oh, Father, Master, Holy 
Spirit, may they awake to the great truths of spirit- 
uality, and not let the body of spirits carry of! the 
dear old banner and injure one of thy greatest forts 
and refuges to spirits bound for the eternal land. 

Also, please note I introduce as witnesses all ages 
of all ages, also some who are not believers in our 
Master. This is to show that our dear heavenly Fa- 
ther and Master sends the rain of spirit upon the un- 
just as well as the just. They love the deepest dyed 
sinner as much as the saint. All are spirits in the 
flesh and children of one Father. They love us all. 
The trouble is that the best of us do not love them as 
we should, but the greatest trouble is that the unbe- 
liever and sinner don't love them, nor will not until 
begotten of the spirit. Indeed the spirit is just now 
being poured out upon all flesh, and the wonders in 
heaven shown as it was prophesied, and as it will be. 

As to Truthfulness. 
All of these ninety-three witnesses, except those 
where I have quoted authors, and from authors I hav*» 
personally visited, and have investigated as to the 



220 What We Are and What We Will Be 

truth of all statements in this volume, believe them to 
be facts ; and they are all people of high standing and 
noted for their truthfulness. Two or three witnesses 
establish a fact, while here we have ninety-three, some 
of them alive, and can be investigated as to the truth 
of the statements in this book ; and all agree as to the 
identity, individuality and continuance of life after 
birth (wrongfully called death). Therefore continu- 
ance of life is established. 

Identity. 

Each and every one has recognized their dear ones 
as their own, and each has been recognized by them 
either on the flesh or out of the flesh. Saul recognized 
Samuel, Dives Lazarus, Lazarus Dives. Jesus was 
recognized by His apostles, and over five hundred 
others at one time. All witnesses in this volume rec- 
ognize their dear ones as their own — and no other. 
Do you think for one moment that we will know less 
in our future state than we do now in the flesh? I 
know we know more, and understand all our sur- 
roundings better whether saved or lost. 

Therefore, Identity is established beyond a doubt. 

Individuality. 
Are we not each an individuality, billions of faces 
and forms, none exactly alike? In this volume mother 
recognizes child as her child ; child, mother as mam- 
ma; mamma, as separate individuals, brother, sister, 



Conclusion 221 

wife, husband and husband wife. You cannot be me 
nor I you, neither here nor in eternity. Moses was not 
Elisha, nor Elisha Moses. Each one recognizes them- 
selves as individuals, separate from others, as they do 
on earth before passing over. Samuel, Saul — Saul, 
Samuel. The rich man recognizes Lazarus and Abra- 
ham; one he had seen in the flesh and the other not. 
The apostles and others recognized jesus as Jesus 
their own Lord. Each one that has been in those 
spheres recognized their parents, children, wives and 
husbands, also friends, talked to them, embraced them, 
and know them as such. Each one passing over sees 
their dead ones and recognizes them as such. I know 
that when I was in that land of love my children were 
just my own, my wife my very own, only more beau- 
tiful; my father was my own father; my mother my 
own mother ; my sisters, my own ; even my grand- 
father, whom I had not seen on earth, my own grand- 
father. I identified each one as a separate individual 
in their own respective relations, and you my reader 
will do the same. 

Therefore, Individuality is established. 

Immortality. 
Immortality, perpetuity, everlasting, forever, eter- 
nal, are all synonomous, and mean the same thing. 
Let us now look at the Old and New Testament on 
this question. Isa. 45: 17: "But Israel shall be saved 
by Jehovah with an everlasting salvation. Ye shall 



222 What We Are and What We Will Be 

not be put to shame nor confounded, world without 
end, for thus saith Jehovah that createth the heavens." 
Matt. 19:25: "Shall inherit eternal life." Matt. 25: 
46: "And these shall go away into everlasting punish- 
ment, but the righteous unto everlasting life." Luke 
18:30: "And in the world to come eternal life." 
John 4:24: "He that believeth on Him that sent me 
hath eternal life." John 6:47: "Verily, verily, I say 
unto you, He that believeth hath life eternal." John 
10:29: "I give unto thee eternal life, and they shall 
never perish." Acts 13:48: "Ordained to eternal 
life." Rom. 6 : 25 : "The gift of God is eternal life." 
Gal. 6:8: "He that serveth unto the spirit shall reap 
eternal life." (In the original, everlasting life.) Paul, 
speaking of Jesus, Heb. 5 : "He became unto all that 
obey him the author of eternal salvation." I John 
2 : 25 : "This is the promise, even the life eternal." 
Rev. 1:18: Jesus says, "I am alive forevermore" 
(and we shall be like him). John 14: 19: "Because 
I live, ye shall live also." 

Now, if we establish beyond a doubt the continu- 
ance of life after birth (wrongfully called death), and 
that they do not age any, then without a doubt it is 
eternal. We prove fact No. 3. Each and every one of 
these five hundred and forty-three and over wit- 
nesses states that the recognition of their dear ones 
was perfect, the child its own mamma only eighteen 
months' old; mothers their children, especially those 



Conclusion 223 

who some ten years after saw them in broad day- 
light, some twenty years after, twenty-six years. One 
brother recognizes his brother fifty-four years, I my 
grandfather over seventy years, and my mother sixty 
years, father, forty-five years, wife, thirty years, chil- 
dren, twenty years : were all beautified and aged none. 
In fact, those whom I had known on earth looked 
younger. Adam was recognized at the first resurrec- 
tion about four thousand years after his departure 
from this life, as Adam, carnal father of us all. So 
was Noah two thousand, three hundred and fifty-one 
years ; Abraham about eighteen hundred and sixty 
years ; Job about fourteen hundred and sixty years 
after his passing over. Moses and Elijah were recog- 
nized, Moses fourteen hundred and sixty years after 
his passing over, when on the mount with Jesus, and 
he was beautiful and bright, talked and was under- 
stood, and known to be Moses, and our Father ap- 
proved of this act of Jesus, showing what his eternal 
kingdom was composed of, living souls, man beauti- 
fied and glorified, witnesses of a continued life, yea, 
life eternal, through Him who was, is and ever will 
be Jehovah. Our Father approved this by this voice 
when He says, "This is my beloved Son in whom I 
am well pleased. Hear ye Him." Now we have proved 
the fact of ten years' duration, twenty and twenty- 
six, fifty-four, yea fifteen hundred years' continuance, 
yes, about four thousand continuance, why not, as the 



224 What We Are and What We Will Be 

Bible says, eternal ? Yes, we are a part of our Father 
and children of Israel or children of Israel by adop- 
tion, therefore shall be saved by Jehovah with an ever- 
lasting salvation, and shall not be put to shame nor 
confounded, world without end, for thus saith Jeho- 
vah, that createth the heavens, and as Jesus said, 
"I am alive forevermore," and we shall be like Him, 
a spirit in the flesh now, a spirit in the land of dark- 
ness, lost, or a spirit, a living soul, a spirit clothed 
upon with soul, beautified as angels ; and as I have 
said before, eternal, evermore, in the heavens or on 
this earth, when it is purified and added to that great 
spiritual kingdom, our Father's country, our Master's 
home, yes, our home where all will be united in fam- 
ily circles, our father ours, out mother ours, our dear 
ones ours, our children our very own. 

These are only a few of the sands picked up on the 
beach of the great ocean of time and knowledge, but 
truths and facts established. The proofs of continu- 
ance of life beyond spiritual birth (or what some call 
death) again is established; also that the life is eter- 
nal, everlasting, forevermore therefore is immortal. 
Therefore immortality is established beyond a single 
doubt. And may our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives 
forevermore, and the Holy Spirit, convince you of 
these truths, that we may meet fully beautified and 
like Him in our Father's kingdom. 

Yours in Christ Jesus our Lord, forevermore, 

Donald W. McDonald. 

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